James S. A. Corey - Cibola Burn. Book four of the expanse

In Cibola Burn, the fourth book of The Expanse series, humanity rushes to colonize thousands of new worlds after the Ring Gates have opened. The story focuses on Ilus, the first habitable exoplanet discovered, where a tense standoff develops between illegal Belter refugees who settled the planet and a powerful corporation, Royal Charter Energy (RCE), which holds the legal rights to it. James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are sent as mediators, but they are pulled into a violent confrontation fueled by corporate greed and the desperate plight of the colonists. As the human conflict escalates, the crew also finds itself grappling with an even bigger threat: the ancient alien technology on Ilus is awakening. This alien presence unleashes a cascade of deadly and unpredictable events, trapping everyone and threatening to cause an extinction-level disaster. The book explores themes of resource exploitation, colonialism, and the ethical compromises required for survival on an unsettled new frontier. As Holden and his crew navigate this dangerous new world, they must contend with both ruthless human opponents and an inscrutable alien intelligence, all while the ghost of Detective Miller continues to advise Holden.