Distributed Epistemic Orchestration: Consciousness as Trans-Contextual Integration in Multi-Agent AI Systems

This preprint introduces Distributed Epistemic Orchestration (DEO), a novel methodological framework for coordinating multiple large language model agents under the integrative continuity of a single human consciousness. Through a performative protocol executed across frontier AI systems, the investigation demonstrates that no current artificial system integrates information across discrete computational contexts without external temporal continuity. The findings suggest that consciousness may function as the substrate of trans-contextual integration — a capability structurally absent in stateless computational architectures. The work contributes to ongoing debates in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence regarding temporal navigation, context windows, and the ontological distinction between processing time and traversing it. All interaction transcripts are included as auditable companion materials to support methodological transparency and replication. This work is intentionally released as a preprint to invite critical evaluation, replication, and cross-disciplinary dialogue.