To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

Humanity in the near future makes contact with an alien world. Things do not go well. A female xenobiologist sees the dust "dust". It turns out this is some sort of alien living spacesuit. It combines with her and gives her special strength. It does not want to be studied. It dodges efforts and even helps "heal" her as further attempts are made. It even fights others that seem dangerous.

Things get weirder with other aliens and intergalactic warfare. There is also a ship mind that decides it wants to do its own things. Things end up coming to a conclusion as she is able to defeat an enemy through peace. The book includes a "technical appendix" that explains various technologies such as fast than light travel as well as a glossary and timeline.

The story feel very much like Orson Scott Card's Ender series (especially Speaker for the Dead). She can communicate with other aliens. She has unleashed the problem and she must go through the effort to fix it.