diff --git a/conductor/tracks.md b/conductor/tracks.md
index 686c436..98db141 100644
--- a/conductor/tracks.md
+++ b/conductor/tracks.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ This file tracks all major tracks for the project. Each track has its own detail
 
 ### Architecture & Backend
 
-1. [ ] **Track: External MCP Server Support**
+1. [~] **Track: External MCP Server Support**
    *Link: [./tracks/external_mcp_support_20260308/](./tracks/external_mcp_support_20260308/)*
    *Goal: Add support for external MCP servers (Local Stdio and Remote SSE/WS) with flexible configuration and lifecycle management (including auto-start on project load).*
 
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/external_mcp_support_20260308/plan.md b/conductor/tracks/external_mcp_support_20260308/plan.md
index b5d8a61..0f98609 100644
--- a/conductor/tracks/external_mcp_support_20260308/plan.md
+++ b/conductor/tracks/external_mcp_support_20260308/plan.md
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # Implementation Plan: External MCP Server Support
 
 ## Phase 1: Configuration & Data Modeling
-- [ ] Task: Define the schema for external MCP server configuration.
-    - [ ] Update `src/models.py` to include `MCPServerConfig` and `MCPConfiguration` classes.
-    - [ ] Implement logic to load `mcp_config.json` from global and project-specific paths.
-- [ ] Task: Integrate configuration loading into `AppController`.
-    - [ ] Ensure the MCP config path is correctly resolved from `config.toml` and `manual_slop.toml`.
-- [ ] Task: Write unit tests for configuration loading and validation.
+- [x] Task: Define the schema for external MCP server configuration. [1c863f0]
+    - [x] Update `src/models.py` to include `MCPServerConfig` and `MCPConfiguration` classes.
+    - [x] Implement logic to load `mcp_config.json` from global and project-specific paths.
+- [x] Task: Integrate configuration loading into `AppController`. [c09e0f5]
+    - [x] Ensure the MCP config path is correctly resolved from `config.toml` and `manual_slop.toml`.
+- [x] Task: Write unit tests for configuration loading and validation. [c09e0f5]
 - [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 1: Configuration & Data Modeling' (Protocol in workflow.md)
 
 ## Phase 2: MCP Client Extension
diff --git a/config.toml b/config.toml
index f96d473..ad6536f 100644
--- a/config.toml
+++ b/config.toml
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 [ai]
-provider = "minimax"
-model = "MiniMax-M2.5"
-temperature = 0.0
+provider = "gemini_cli"
+model = "gemini-2.5-flash-lite"
+temperature = 0.85
 top_p = 1.0
-max_tokens = 32000
+max_tokens = 1024
 history_trunc_limit = 900000
-active_preset = "Default"
-system_prompt = ""
+active_preset = ""
+system_prompt = "Overridden Prompt"
 
 [projects]
 paths = [
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ paths = [
     "C:\\projects\\manual_slop\\tests\\artifacts\\temp_liveexecutionsim.toml",
     "C:\\projects\\manual_slop\\tests\\artifacts\\temp_project.toml",
 ]
-active = "C:/projects/gencpp/gencpp_sloppy.toml"
+active = "C:\\projects\\manual_slop\\tests\\artifacts\\live_gui_workspace\\manual_slop.toml"
 
 [gui]
 separate_message_panel = false
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ separate_tier4 = false
 "Files & Media" = true
 "AI Settings" = true
 "MMA Dashboard" = true
-"Task DAG" = false
-"Usage Analytics" = false
+"Task DAG" = true
+"Usage Analytics" = true
 "Tier 1" = false
 "Tier 2" = false
 "Tier 3" = false
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ separate_tier4 = false
 "Operations Hub" = true
 Message = false
 Response = false
-"Tool Calls" = true
+"Tool Calls" = false
 Theme = true
 "Log Management" = true
 Diagnostics = false
diff --git a/mock_debug_prompt.txt b/mock_debug_prompt.txt
index c910701..fb839e7 100644
--- a/mock_debug_prompt.txt
+++ b/mock_debug_prompt.txt
@@ -2370,3 +2370,49 @@ PROMPT:
 role: tool
 Here are the results: {"content": "done"}
 ------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+PATH: Epic Initialization — please produce tracks
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+Please generate the implementation tickets for this track.
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+Please read test.txt
+You are assigned to Ticket T1.
+Task Description: do something
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+role: tool
+Here are the results: {"content": "done"}
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+PATH: Epic Initialization — please produce tracks
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+Please generate the implementation tickets for this track.
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+Please read test.txt
+You are assigned to Ticket T1.
+Task Description: do something
+------------------
+--- MOCK INVOKED ---
+ARGS: ['tests/mock_gemini_cli.py']
+PROMPT:
+role: tool
+Here are the results: {"content": "done"}
+------------------
diff --git a/presets.toml b/presets.toml
index a510b1a..cabb063 100644
--- a/presets.toml
+++ b/presets.toml
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 [presets.Default]
 system_prompt = ""
+
+[presets.ModalPreset]
+system_prompt = "Modal Content"
diff --git a/project_history.toml b/project_history.toml
index 3d5fbe7..f89ced8 100644
--- a/project_history.toml
+++ b/project_history.toml
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ active = "main"
 
 [discussions.main]
 git_commit = ""
-last_updated = "2026-03-10T21:01:58"
+last_updated = "2026-03-11T23:45:09"
 history = []
diff --git a/test_presets.toml b/test_presets.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e62bbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_presets.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[presets.ModalPreset]
+system_prompt = "Modal Content"