Nexus talks to aliens

"When Nexus catches the attention of the alien croc ambassador, his first space travel goes weirdly astray. A backwoods Earth terraformer, young Nexus is awkward with people, good with creatures, at a time when the human worlds are bumping against the alien races who surround them. He sets off to explore human space. But to leave home, he must first repay a debt of honor, and smuggle a highly illegal sentient robot off-planet. Memory murky, the poor robot got stranded on Earth before Nexus was born. Nexus is delighted when the alien ambassador boards his space train to Luna. Most fear the enigmatic crocs, but he's fascinated. Then an explosion derails the train car. But was the attack aimed at the aliens? Or his forgetful robot? Join an upbeat civilian team on a hopepunk science fiction odyssey, with mystery, space trains, flying life support suits, and enigmatic aliens! Come for world-building and adventure, and stay for the characters. This fresh new series takes place 200 years into the future of Booth's long-running Thrive series"--