OK, I just finished listening to
The Tomorrow Log, by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, while also reading the eBook. This is not, specifically, Liaden, though it certainly could be the same universe.
Protagonist is Gem ser'Edreth, a thief and electronics wizard who was sold as a child by his ship to a grounder, master thief Edreth. Now his ship has sent Corbyne Faztherot to reclaim him to the ship as the Captain pre-ordained in the Tomorrow Log. But meanwhile he's caught up in the machinations of the local druglord, Sazony Belaconto, and has been "Chosen" by the Trident, a semi-sentient artifact, complete with its very own Witness.
Highly recommended, I simply could not put it down. It does end fairly abruptly, but all the major threads are more or less tied off. However, it definitely gave me the feeling that I'd love to hear more of the adventures of Gem ser'Edreth.