Part Seven: Argument
Is the Nimrod from New X-Men (2nd series) #28-31 the same Nimrod that arrived in Uncanny X-Men #191, as inferred from New X-Men (2nd series) #31?
When Craig Kyle & Chris Yost wrote the “Nimrod” story arc in New X-Men it is clear that they intended for the Nimrod which appeared in that story to have been the same Nimrod unit that eventually went back in time to appear in Uncanny X-Men #191. Unfortunately, the future era from which that Nimrod originated cannot be the same timeline from which the other Nimrod arrived. The problem is Storm.
In the flashback in New X-Men (2nd series) #29, which takes place some 16 years in the future from that point in time, Nimrod killed Storm, obliterating her with a disintegration ray. This Storm had been the wife of Forge, with whom she had borne two children. However, in the reality of the Nimrod 
that followed Rachel back in time from the “Days of Future Past” timeline, Storm had not only not married Forge, but had been a prisoner in a mutant concentration camp. It was from this internment facility that she had plotted with her fellow former X-Men on a daring scheme to attack the Sentinel’s headquarters in the Baxter Building. It was during this attack that Storm was killed by an Omega Sentinel – not a Nimrod unit. [Uncanny X-Men #141-142] Their two deaths, as well as their lives, are mutually exclusive and impossible to reconcile.
There are other, minor discrepancies which seem to support this. In Excalibur (1st series) #66-67, humans working for the Master Mold review security footage of the Kate Pryde and Rachel Summer’s operation in Project: Nimrod. What happened after the energy pulse which erupted when Rachel traveled back in time is unclear to the viewers, as the incident wiped out the security transmission, though they believe that the pulse caused the premature activation of the Nimrod prototype. They remain unsure, however, because Kate Pryde managed to activate her nuclear device, vaporizing the same facility.
This would seem to mesh with Nimrod’s internal “thoughts” in Uncanny X-Men #193, where it remarked to himself about how it “attempted to mechanically replicate the procedure.” While this bit of dialog is not completely incongruous with Nimrod extorting help from Forge (known as the Maker in his timeline), it would make little sense for this Nimrod model not only to survive the nuclear detonation, but journey to Dallas, Texas, to meet with Forge/the Maker without those who were behind Nimrod’s project to be made aware or so informed.
Another interesting piece to note, which again offers no definitive proof, is that the “New X-Men” Nimrod at no point expresses an interest in searching for his main quarry: Rachel Summers. Still, as this Nimrod is mainly interested in its survival, the location and termination of fugitive Rachel Summers would be of secondary importance.
If not the same Nimrod unit – then what happened to the Nimrod unit in New X-Men (2nd series) #31?
Again, as it is clear that Kyle and Yost intended for the two to be the same, the answer will remain a dangler. The most likely scenario would be that this Nimrod unit arrived in a past alternate to the 616 timeline. Another possibility – of which there is no evidence as Kyle and Yost had no intention of this being the case – is that the spell which Doctor Strange had cast in Uncanny X-Men #191, accidentally summoning Nimrod to avert the reign of Kulan Gath, merged the two Sentinels. Thus, the Nimrod that eventually was absorbed by the Lang Master Mold was itself already an amalgamation of two previous Nimrods. If this is not the case and the two Nimrods are separate entities, then the Nimrod of the New X-Men storyline still exists elsewhere in cross-time.
What happened with Nimrod’s adopted family, the Rodriguez household, between Uncanny X-Men #208 & #246?
When Nimrod was a house guest of Jaime Rodriguez’s, he went by the simple name of “Nimrod.” [Uncanny X-Men #193, 197] As well as giving him a place to stay, Jaime finds Nimrod a job working at the fish market [Uncanny X-Men #197]. However, by Uncanny X-Men #246, Nimrod is now working as the foreman of an explosives crew on a construction site, now under the human guise of Nicholas Hunter, rather than “Nimrod.”
Unfortunately, as there were no appearances of the character between #209 (the conclusion of his fight with the X-Men and Hellfire Club) and #246, any scenario offered would be speculation. However, if one must extrapolate based on available data, it is possible that Nimrod was forced to severe his relationship with Jaime and his family. The level of damage suffered by Nimrod at the end of the battle was near catastrophic. If Jaime had seen him in this condition and had learned of Nimrod’s existence of being a mutant-hunting robot, Jaime would most likely have banished him. Previously, during an argument with his brother, Luis, Jaime had expressed his belief that mutants were like humans, neither good nor bad but individuals. This belief would have been in conflict with Nimrod’s programming. If he had been banished, or likewise decided on his own to abandon Jaime’s family, then this would have provided Nimrod the impetus for choosing a new profession (explosives foreman over fishmonger), as well as a new name.
How did the X-Men (seen via Cable’s review of their files) know about Jaime Rodriguez’s connection to Nimrod in X-Force (1st series) #35?
Once again, without any concrete evidence, one must rely on speculation based on the limited evidence at hand. When the X-Men first confronted the reconstituted Master Mold at the construction site, they had no clue from where the Sentinel originated. However, it stands to reason that they investigated the matter afterward and learned that one “Nicolas Hunter” had been at the center of the explosion from which the Sentinel arose. Enough investigation into Nicholas Hunter’s past might have revealed his lack of one (unless Nimrod fabricated one) and perhaps even made a connection with his previous life as “Nimrod – houseguest to Jaime Rodriguez.”
However, as Cable mentions only Jaime Rodriguez (using the English version of his name as “Jamie”) and nothing about “Nicholas Hunter,” it is possible the X-Men never discovered Hunter’s secret identity. If this is the case, then perhaps Jaime informed the authorities about his former houseguest after learning Nimrod’s identity as a Sentinel. This could solve the issue of the X-Men being aware of Jaime, but not mentioning Nicholas Hunter, as well as reinforcing the end of the two’s friendship.