Ok, so let me start by saying I have only played FO3, but have read all about the Fallout series in the Vault (wiki). I read about the Children of the Cathedral and learned of what happened...

Is The Church of the Children of Atom really a mask for something sinister? Confessor Cromwell always disappears on my game around 11.10.77 - This is probably just apart of the disappearing NPC's thing, BUT he always disappears around the same time (I'm on my 4th play-thru).

What if the Children of Atom are a part of Vault 87's supermutant activity? **although the Terminal suggests that Cromwell is really just an "Atom Worshipper"**

All I'll say is, if it has the foundation of something siniter, it's yet another flavour scenario that Bethesda missed out on.

There are lots of things in FO3 that look like they maybe going somewhere, prospects of joining the Enclave, Dunwich building, and any fedex quest all point to a potential bigger picture, but never follow through.

Although I doubt the children of the atom, or Cromwell, are in league with Vault 87's experiments with F.E.V, as it has no affiliation with radiation, except that F.E.V was primarily designed to neutralise radiation as a form of nuclear protection, and that side effect still exists within every strain of F.E.V thus far. If anything the Children of the Atom would be against F.E.V association, as it is stifling to radiation and its effects.

Definitely a great plot idea, though far beyond what we have come to expect from "Fallout-Doom". I would hope perhaps, that one of the many scenario makers out there, could take this idea and run with it.

Doubtful there's any sinister motivations going on with the Children of the Atom, seeing as how they can be erased from existence if you do Mister Burke's "request".

Not only that, the Children WANT the bomb to go off so their particles can be divided into trillions of universes. They are just IMO a small (and batsh1t insane) group unaffiliated with any other organization in the Wastes..

If they were in league with the mutants, I imagine that the usual suspects would accuse Bethesda of unimaginatively ripping off the Children of the Cathedral. No-win situation, eh?

Probably.

I really don't get the impression that they're anything more than a small, somewhat crazy cult, if they were anything more, it certainly wouldn't amount to anything if you chose to side with Mr. Burke.

I've always stuck with living in Megaton (deactivating the bomb) -- so I never considered that; which makes my idea kinda redundant