Bc2000 (for the BCF2000 & BCR2000)

Looking around I see I'm in the company of very advanced users so I'm
going to feel a bit dumb asking what are pretty fundamental questions,
but I hope someone will take the time. Here's my setup:

- BCF into USB 2.0 on mainboard, MIDI keyboard (with sus pedal) into
MIDI-in jack on my audio card.

- I would like to use the BCF for mixer control, and to acquire a BCR
for VSTi and VST FX control. Can someone tell me what the best way to
chain the two devices would be? Single MIDI cable from one to another,
then USB to my machine? And should I forget about Mackie emulation
altogether if I'm chaining the two?

- I also have a MIDI expression pedal and it's in the BCF jack. I
gather I shouldn't use Mackie mode if I want to use this thing to e.g.
do a wah-wah while playing a VSTi. 

Any advice on chaining the devices, should I be using different ports
than I am now for my keyboard and/or pedals, etc would be really
greatly appreciated, as well as the chining of BCR/BCF and workflow
between them and Cubase. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.