diff --git a/lxc1/p2-apps/mongo/mongo_init.sh b/lxc1/p2-apps/mongo/mongo_init.sh
index 9498d18..a2a8276 100644
--- a/lxc1/p2-apps/mongo/mongo_init.sh
+++ b/lxc1/p2-apps/mongo/mongo_init.sh
@@ -15,38 +15,35 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
-# 2. WAIT FOR MONGO TO BE READY
-# We need the container to be up before we can run mongosh commands
-echo "⏳ Waiting for MongoDB container (${mongo-db$KOMODO_NODE_ID}) to be ready..."
-MAX_RETRIES=10
-COUNT=0
-until docker exec "mongo-db$KOMODO_NODE_ID" mongosh --quiet --eval "db.adminCommand('ping')" &>/dev/null; do
-    ((COUNT++))
-    if [ $COUNT -ge $MAX_RETRIES ]; then
-        echo "❌ Timeout: MongoDB container is not responding."
-        exit 1
-    fi
-    sleep 2
-done
+STATUS_JSON=$(docker exec -t "mongo-db${KOMODO_NODE_ID}" mongosh --quiet --eval "rs.status()" 2>/dev/null)
+IS_INIT=$(echo "$STATUS_JSON" | grep -c "ok: 1")
 
-# 3. CHECK-THEN-INITIATE LOGIC
-# Ask the DB if it is already part of a replica set
-IS_INIT=$(docker exec -t "mongo-db$KOMODO_NODE_ID" mongosh --quiet --eval "rs.status().ok" 2>/dev/null)
+if [ "$IS_INIT" -gt 0 ]; then
+    echo "✅ MongoDB is already part of a replica set. Nothing to do."
+    exit 0
+fi
 
-if [ "$IS_INIT" == "1" ]; then
-    echo "✅ MongoDB Replica Set 'rs${LXC_NUM}' is already initialized. Skipping."
-else
-    echo "⚠️ Replica Set not found. Initializing 'rs${LXC_NUM}' now..."
+if [ "$KOMODO_NODE_ID" == "1" ]; then
+    echo "👑 Node 1 detected. Initiating as Primary for 'rs${LXC_NUM}'..."
     
-    # Use your defined PRI/SEC variables for the members
-    docker exec -t "mongo-db$KOMODO_NODE_ID" mongosh --eval "
+    # Initiate with just self to guarantee Primary status
+    docker exec -t "mongo-db1" mongosh --eval "
     rs.initiate({
       _id: 'rs${LXC_NUM}',
-      members: [
-        { _id: 0, host: 'mongo-db1:27017' },
-        { _id: 1, host: 'mongo-db2:27017' }
-      ]
+      members: [{ _id: 0, host: 'mongo-db1:27017' }]
     })"
     
-    echo "🚀 Initialization command sent! Transitioning to Primary..."
+    echo "⏳ Waiting for election..."
+    sleep 5
+    
+    # Pre-authorize the partner
+    docker exec -t "mongo-db1" mongosh --eval "rs.add('mongo-db2:27017')"
+    echo "🚀 Node 1 is now Primary and waiting for Node 2."
+
+else
+    echo "🏃 Node 2 detected. Attempting to handshake with Node 1..."
+    
+    # Node 2 doesn't initiate. It just waits for Node 1 to be ready.
+    # Node 1 already ran rs.add('mongo-db2'), so Node 2 just needs to be up.
+    echo "🤝 Node 2 is online. Synchronization should start automatically via Node 1's config."
 fi
\ No newline at end of file