Not sure if this is known, but I tried leaving my zombie in another room. I periodically put it in STANCE DEF and then command it to SPECIAL, thinking it would taunt anything that happened to wander in and not be engaged. Instead, even though the zombie isn't in a room with me, it messages as though it's taunted everything I'm engaged to (it clearly hasn't, they stay at melee).

Additionally, all the messaging when we command our zombie from afar as though the zombie is with you, even if it isn't. For example -

>command zom stance off
You focus your will through the thanatological link, and you sense your [critter] zombie shift into a offensive stance.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
A violent light glints in an arisen [critter] zombie's glassy eyes.

Maybe the AI or messaging needs some tweaking for interacting with your zombie from afar?