Progenitor — Christopher John Chater

After sarcastic lower-level crewman Tim Carr sees a light outside the ship, he tries to convince Comm Officer Hanna Merrick that there's something out there besides a dying star. Tim's asked to keep quiet about his discovery, however, because Hanna has a plan of her own, which she'll set in motion after the government causes the star to prematurely supernova. Tim's feelings for Hanna, and his life, are put on the line when he realizes her plan could cause the elimination of an alien species.