Success. The various parts and batteries arrived and I put together the pack and yet to blow anything up.
Right now, I'm having to pull the 8 aa's from the pack, put into the 8 aa charger, and back again. In the setup for the M1:
http://www.pocketables.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2415&page=3
the gentleman appears to have found a double female adapter and can plug the pack's output end into one side and the battery charger's output side into the other which charges the pack. I have not found a kit that can do this. Universal NiMh battery chargers seem to have alligator clips and wire harnesses serving as their connectors.
Thanks again for the help, I'm glad to have the battery pack,
Jake