Inspiration (Or A Pronounced Lack There Of)

I've spent much of my free time this week watching the first season of Heroes, the TV Series that was on a few years ago.  I had heard good things about it, and was rather hoping to draw in some ideas for Session 17.  Unfortunately, it has been less than productive; the time-skipping prophecy plot line isn't well-suited to the BattleTech universe, even during the Jihad.  What I really need to do is find a good way to connect the Singularity Foundation to the Sarna/HPG/Alex/Cho plotline.  I'd also like to bring in a small back connection to the Bruce Lecna plotline if I can.  So here goes.

The Singularity Foundation, as an extension of their High-Performance Computing Group, was doing some research on HPG computation; utilizing the existing HPG network to coordinate very large computational systems over relatively short distances (within the same building.)  The research wasn't practical as the HPG calculations almost always consumed more resources than were saved with superluminal data transit times within the system, but when the Word's R&D was unable to convert a full-sized HPG station into a practical weapon, they began converting from the other side; the smallest working HPG system ever invented was upscaled into a BattleMech-grade weapon.

My plan for the David Cho/Alex Black plot line is for Simon to turn up an extra document that contains a listing of operatives who were working the "clean up" after the Sarna HPG attack, and their status.  The only agent that is not listed as deceased will be Wei Zhang, who will be listed as missing.  This will at least give the party a name to connect to Alex's parents' deaths.

The intersection of these two organizations will be the system I need Simon to break into.  Since we know the HPG Cannon eventually ends up in the hands of the Manei Domini, it makes sense for them to play a role in this.  I think it will mean I resolve the plot line of the Missouri Cell to be a rogue MD unit on Terra looking out for the Master's plan and adjusting St. Jamais' policies and plots by force where necessary.  The practical upshot is that the hook for this adventure can be to finally make contact with the Missouri Cell, or for them to make contact with the party.  They would represent a wetwork subgroup of ROM loyal to Apollyon -- they're ensuring that regardless of what happens to Terra, the best interests of Gibson are being served.

The practical upshot of this all is that Session 17 will require the first direct contact with the Missouri Cell the party has ever had, likely by the Cell directly attempting to recruit Simon to break into a Word of Blake ROM because they lack the necessary skillset among them, possible because of a loss suffered in Montana.