Neil prefers to stand at the back in the Bob-moots, playing the role of agitator. He and Herschel seem to have an inferiority complex, referring to each other as "pond scum" despite their heroic deeds and remarkable inventions.
All These Worlds[]
Heaven's River[]
He also collaborates with Conan, Riker, and Herschel to create the Ever Onward foundation that recruits Romulans to colonize a faraway planet. He and Herschel plan to leave for a distant part of the galaxy, with stasis pods and raw materials in the Bellerophon. They will manufacture HEAVEN vessels piloted by AMIs that will travel ahead of the Bellerophon to explore systems near their flight path to find a suitable planet for colonization. The goal is to expand the sphere of exploration deep into the galaxy, and to spread humanity far beyond the bubble of systems near Sol. Later, they alter the plan when Will proposes that he precede their expedition in a mini-Bellerophon he built, with the intention of seeking advanced intelligence in distant parts of the galaxy.
Finally, Neil and Herschel also develop spacefaring mannys with tiny SURGE drives, and an experimental manny called The X-Man 1 (aka Mannequin Skywalker) that can shapeshift because it is composed entirely of nanobots.