Read through the cinematic scenario included with "Colony War". The scenario was an immediate follow up to the events from the novel which was a nice touch. Included is a map of the LV187 complex, which I wish I'd known about while I was reading the novel but nevertheless it was cool seeing the layout after imagining the area in my head.
We are definitely heading in the direction of a more interconnected universe which some will definitely enjoy and others probably won't. The guides of this current heading appear to be Clara and Gaska as they've been acknowledged in the most recent outings, with not a mention of SM since "Phalanx" released.