The Starfarers Series

Metaphase

Cast out from interstellar civilization, the crew of the Starfarer encounters an extraterrestrial whose reputation is equally bad: the squidmoth. Contact specialist J.D. Sauvage risks her life to befriend the creature, trusting her instincts instead of the warnings of the alien human. The welcome Sauvage receives and the connection she makes will help her overcome her innate fears and prejudices, and she will be given a gift that will save her, from being left behind in an empty star system-as well as redeem the Starfarer and its mission...

Nautilus

After their encounter with the squidmoth, and with their ecosystem immunized by the alien human, the crew of the Starfarer makes contact with representatives from the Four Worlds. J.D. Sauvage is sent to meet the furry creatures-as large as lions and as lithe as otters. They have been waiting for humans for a long time. But, there is something they want from the Starfarer team: Earth's one advantage over space civilization-a new, faster algorithm for interstellar navigation.