Thanks for the tip
valky! I have not resorted to piracy yet, but I did find that lucrative trade route (although the route I found was for 500k instead of 1000k, but who's complaining

).
By the way, the thing that I did wrong was
not running away. I figured that every battle I encountered was one I could win, but with all the random encounters and random traffic in the areas there's a good chance - and certainly when just starting out - that you won't make it. So now when the odds are against me, I tuck my tail firmly between my legs and make for the nearest exit
Looks like the second installment of Star Wolves will be even more enjoyable as the first! Already looking forward to playing the third one!