You could use chained missions, where there is promise of a "big payout" at the end.
I could see something where you have a mission where you take your ship, launch ship launched fighter, pilot the ship launched fighter inside a megaship, destroy the reactor core, fly the slf out, the megaship explodes, you pick up critical cargo from the debri, land on a planet, put the cargo in your srv, drive your srv into a cave complex to deliver it to some unscrupulous smugglers, they betray you and destroy your srv, you fight your way out on foot, report them to the mission giver, who pays you off with hazard pay and an apology for them double crossing you, and buys you a drink at the bar.
I could see something where you have a mission where you take your ship, launch ship launched fighter, pilot the ship launched fighter inside a megaship, destroy the reactor core, fly the slf out, the megaship explodes, you pick up critical cargo from the debri, land on a planet, put the cargo in your srv, drive your srv into a cave complex to deliver it to some unscrupulous smugglers, they betray you and destroy your srv, you fight your way out on foot, report them to the mission giver, who pays you off with hazard pay and an apology for them double crossing you, and buys you a drink at the bar.