Night Train to Rigel (Quadrail Book 1)

Frank Compton, a former Western Alliance Intelligence operative, is approached by the Spiders—robotic alien beings who maintain and operate the Quadrail, a galactic transportation system connecting twelve inhabited empires. A stranger delivering a message to Compton is killed before his eyes, prompting the Spiders to seek him out. They have discovered a sinister plot to misuse the Quadrail and believe only Compton's unique skills can stop it. Compton boards the Quadrail and partners with Bayta, a half-human representative of the Spiders. As they work together, they uncover the scope of a vast, galaxy-wide conspiracy. Hunted by alien assassins of various species, Compton and Bayta race against time to prevent a catastrophic event that would cause the galactic train to derail and destroy humanity. This is the first book in the Quadrail series.