Opportunity Space
Novelette 13,020 words Recommended by 1 award/anthology source
If Kova can convince the Washe to sign the agreement with the Fiscality, she’ll save their species from extinction and advance her career hugely, but they’re reluctant to sign, her ship is under attack, and there’s something really weird going on.
Quasar links out; the story lives on Asimov's, where the author gets the click.