Finity's End

C.J. Cherryh returns to the universe of her classic Cyteen and Downbelow Station, and to the oldest, most historic of the interstellar Merchanter ships: the Neihart family's Finity's End.
With a truce declared between the major powers, war hero Captain James Robert Neihart returns to the Alliance station of Pell to reclaim one of the Merchanters' own. During the Company Wars, Finity's End had to leave a pregnant crew member on Pell and was unable to retrieve her orphaned son.
But Fletcher Neihart has left Pell for the planet Downbelow where, after a childhood spent in uncaring foster homes, he's found happiness working with the hisa - Downbelow's mystic, peaceful natives. He even has a beautiful girlfriend. The last thing he wants is to be dragged into space. He has no choice.
And the Neiharts must deal with a resentful hostage who bears their name and features, but knows nothing of their history, traditions or lives.
Meanwhile, Finity's End flies toward conflict and danger. For Captain Neihart is forging a treaty among the worlds, stations and Merchanters; and opponents will try ambush, sabotage and murder to stop him. By journey's end the hope for peace will depend on whether the crew can uphold Merchanter honor; and whether Fletcher, guided by a gift from the hisa, can learn to trust ... and find his true place in the universe.