Space Pirate — Kenneth E. Ingle

The sole survivor to the attack on New Hope, Joshua Penrose takes legal possession of an abandoned Braeden corvette. Braeden wants it back. Prevented from porting on all but a few worlds, Joshua turns to pirating. Unlike others, he leaves his prizes with the means to survive. He never kills those taken. Hunted by Braeden's powerful Navy, he resorts to every means available to achieve his goals: that his home world be free to become a member of the Federation of Worlds. He'll do what's necessary to achieve his goal-and does.