This is book 1 of the "Vatta's War" series.

This note contains spoilers for the book.

Kinda rough, being bounced out of the service academy just before graduation, losing the military career you wanted. Sent home to your family, who promptly sends you out on a tradeship they own, as captain. One-way trip, sending the ship to the breakers and making a few cargo deliveries in the area.

But along the way she runs into a war, some pretty good mercenaries who offer her employment, and a chance to make money and rescue the ship and get to keep it for herself. And she actually manages to pull it off pretty well, with low casualties for what's being handled.

Clearly, there will be more of these. In fact, there are already 5 of them, one a year starting when this one came out. And that, I am told, is that.