diff --git a/cmd/ax/harness.go b/cmd/ax/harness.go
index 51c53eb..71275dc 100644
--- a/cmd/ax/harness.go
+++ b/cmd/ax/harness.go
@@ -82,12 +82,11 @@ func NewHarnessServiceServer() *HarnessServiceServer {
 }
 
 // Connect implements the bidirectional gRPC streaming capability.
-// It receives client inputs and responds only with "Hello world".
+// It receives client inputs and responds with "hello world" unless the input message text is "go_away".
+// TODO(params): Update the implementation to be a proper one.
 func (s *HarnessServiceServer) Connect(stream proto.HarnessService_ConnectServer) error {
-	// TODO: Connect will be implemented to serve the built in harnesses
-	// as an isolated actor.
 	for {
-		_, err := stream.Recv()
+		req, err := stream.Recv()
 		if err == io.EOF {
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -95,6 +94,22 @@ func (s *HarnessServiceServer) Connect(stream proto.HarnessService_ConnectServer
 			return err
 		}
 
+		shouldGoAway := false
+		for _, m := range req.Messages {
+			if textBlock, ok := m.Content.Type.(*proto.Content_Text); ok {
+				// TODO(params): Replace this with a proper protocol for go away.
+				if textBlock.Text.Text == "go_away" {
+					shouldGoAway = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		if shouldGoAway {
+			log.Println("Received 'go_away' message, closing stream...")
+			return nil
+		}
+
 		err = stream.Send(&proto.HarnessMessage{
 			Messages: []*proto.Message{
 				{
@@ -102,7 +117,7 @@ func (s *HarnessServiceServer) Connect(stream proto.HarnessService_ConnectServer
 					Content: &proto.Content{
 						Type: &proto.Content_Text{
 							Text: &proto.TextContent{
-								Text: "Hello world",
+								Text: "hello world",
 							},
 						},
 					},
diff --git a/cmd/ax/harnessclient.go b/cmd/ax/harnessclient.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e02c361
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/ax/harnessclient.go
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+// Package main implements a simple client for the fake HarnessService.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/google/ax/proto"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials/insecure"
+)
+
+var (
+	harnessServerAddr string
+)
+
+var harnessClientCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:    "harnessclient",
+	Short:  "Run the harness client to connect to the server",
+	Hidden: true,
+	RunE:   runHarnessClient,
+}
+
+func init() {
+	harnessClientCmd.Flags().StringVar(&harnessServerAddr, "server", "localhost:50053", "The server address for the gRPC HarnessService.")
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(harnessClientCmd)
+}
+
+func runHarnessClient(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	log.Printf("Connecting to HarnessService at %s...", harnessServerAddr)
+	conn, err := grpc.NewClient(harnessServerAddr, grpc.WithTransportCredentials(insecure.NewCredentials()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to server: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	client := proto.NewHarnessServiceClient(conn)
+
+	stream, err := client.Connect(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to open connection stream: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
+	fmt.Println("Interactive client started. Type your messages below.")
+	fmt.Println("Type 'go_away' to close the stream and exit.")
+	for {
+		fmt.Print("\nClient > ")
+		if !scanner.Scan() {
+			break
+		}
+		text := scanner.Text()
+		if text == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		msg := &proto.HarnessMessage{
+			Messages: []*proto.Message{
+				{
+					Role: "user",
+					Content: &proto.Content{
+						Type: &proto.Content_Text{
+							Text: &proto.TextContent{
+								Text: text,
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		}
+
+		if err := stream.Send(msg); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Failed to send message: %v", err)
+		}
+		// TODO(params): Replace this with a proper protocol for go away.
+		if text == "go_away" {
+			log.Println("Sending 'go_away' to close the stream...")
+			break
+		}
+
+		resp, err := stream.Recv()
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Failed to receive response: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		for i, m := range resp.Messages {
+			var textContent string
+			if textBlock, ok := m.Content.Type.(*proto.Content_Text); ok {
+				textContent = textBlock.Text.Text
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("Server > message[%d] (%s): %s\n", i, m.Role, textContent)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Close send side to signal request completion
+	if err := stream.CloseSend(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to close send side of stream: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Println("Waiting for final stream EOF...")
+	_, err = stream.Recv()
+	if err != io.EOF {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Expected EOF from server, got: %v", err)
+	}
+	log.Println("Stream closed successfully by server.")
+	return nil
+}