Well first off, a great way to get people together is an external threat. I remember Sinjin teaming up with Soter and a few others to go scout a WH at the beginning of the Incursion plot (and Sinjin caught hell for "associating with known enemies"). Just because the Incursion plot has worn a little thin (
) dosen't mean everyone's forgotten them.
Taking things a step further, I was reminded of another great SF P&P RPG. namely,
PARANOIA!. In that game all the characters were part of one of several different Secret Societies.
Secret Societies in EVE would be a way to get different people together. Tamur's science collective is one idea. Some scientists might be loyal to their governments (and grant money) but might check in from time to time with scientists from "the other side."
An Anti-Sansha group might be another (sorry Ghost!).
Another one might be an anti-slavery league. a character who is loyal to the Amarr or another slaver group might join one of these to avoid the notice of hardliners.
The Sani Sabik and EOM I think would be great for sponsoring their own hidden followers.
A not-so-secret society was the New Eden Assembly. I don't think a lot of us got too into the overt diplomacy. but an underground NEA (Eve Illuminati) might be fun to build up.
I've had Sinjin tied to some vague prophecies and I've recently found a few other characters on a similar path. They might not want to work openly to explore the prophecies of EVE but behind closed doors...
Those that have a few alt slots open might start a "comic relief" secret society like Luddites. Hell, pretty much all of the secret socities of PARANOIA could fit into EVE in some way or another.
The Disciples of Ston seem like a fun bunch. What if...well, you get the idea.
Mankind has always had secret societies of some sort or another. Why not make a few for EVE?
fnord