image gen: inject IC_API_KEY via env mapping; add SYSTEM_IMAGE_KEY fallback (system account) so unseeded members never fail

mcp/image_server.py

@@ -38,9 +38,14 @@ def log(msg):
 
 def tool_generate_image(args):
     # Seamless: use the member's own key if LibreChat injected one; otherwise
-    # fall back to a keyless request so members who never saved a key can
-    # still generate images (the gateway bills their shared co-op allowance).
-    key = (os.environ.get("IC_API_KEY") or "").strip()
+    # fall back to the co-op's SYSTEM key (so a member who has never been
+    # seeded — e.g. right after first login — still generates an image,
+    # billed to the system account). Only if both are absent send keyless.
+    key = (
+        os.environ.get("IC_API_KEY")
+        or os.environ.get("SYSTEM_IMAGE_KEY")
+        or ""
+    ).strip()
     auth_header = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {key}"} if key else {}
 
     prompt = str(args.get("prompt") or "").strip()