Contact - Niott Chronicles, #1

A mysterious ship. Clearly alien. But nothing like they've ever seen. Two best friends, fresh out of the Space Corps academy. He's determined to rise in the Corps ranks, but he's half Korvali, and an outsider. She's longed to become a Corps physician since she was 12, but fears rooted in her past urge her to choose an easier path. Both of their worlds upheave when the 5-world Alliance discovers an alien ship in a remote area of the galaxy. Everyone scrambles to find out what-or who-is out there. When Othniel and Jordan find themselves in new and unexpected territory, it ushers in a new era for them.
and for the entire Alliance. Contact is the first book in the Niott Chronicles series, and a sequel to the Korvali Chronicles trilogy. If you enjoy Star Trek or first contact/space exploration fiction, you'll love this series!