Risk Is Our Business
Posted on 16 Oct 2022 @ 11:42am by Chief Warrant Officer Braedyn Tann
Edited on on 16 Oct 2022 @ 11:43am
Mission:
M3 - Into the Deep
Location: Starfleet Academy
Timeline: Backpost, Starfleet Academy Graduation Day 2397
771 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure
Chief Warrant Officer Braedyn Tann, Flight Instructor and Combat Flight Instructor at Starfleet Academy, took a deep, cleansing breath in through his nose and out through his mouth before rising and walking over to the podium. It was graduation day for Starfleet Academy Class of 2397. Braedyn had been teaching at the Starfleet Enlisted Academy, Starfleet and Federation Marine Flight Warrant Officer Academy, and Starfleet Academy since late summer 2391. Those being honored today included students from all three programs. Normally the commanding officer of Flight Control and Aerospace Training would be the one to speak and to hand out the diplomas to graduates of flight and aerospace programs. But this was Braedyn’s last year teaching, at least for a while. He was deeply touched that both his students and his fellow instructors and faculty petitioned to have him do it this year. Braedyn looked out at the gathered crowd, took another deep breath, let it out, and started his speech.
“Risk is our business!” Braedyn said. “So said the late Captain James T. Kirk. He clearly believed this. I believe it, too. When I walked into the recruiting office to join Starfleet 51 years ago, those words were on a plaque on the wall behind the recruiters desk. Risk is our business. The recruiter, Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Maggie Taylor, told me that was the first thing I needed to understand before I signed up. The very first thing. Risk is our business. She said after I signed up, that should be my mantra. I should repeat it to myself every morning, every night. Risk is our business. Whenever I had doubts, whenever I felt my resolve to serve waiver, I should repeat it, over and over if necessary. Risk is our business.
This simple yet at times terrifying and overwhelming idea carried me through the Enlisted Academy, Flight Training, Combat Flight Training, and three wars over fifty years of service. And it will continue to carry me through the end of my service in Starfleet.
Risk is our business. As many of you know, during the Second Battle of Chin’toka, I was part of a group that was cut off and left behind enemy lines. We were forced to scuttle anything that could fly, wreck the temporary airfield the Seabees had set up, and make for the mountains. There were enemies everywhere, we had no support, few supplies. We were living off of the land and stealing what food and medical supplies we could get from the Cardassians and the Breen, whatever weapons we could grab from anyone. We were scared, we were hungry. Some were wounded, some got sick, some paid the ultimate price. But we kept going, not ignoring risks, but by understanding that risk is part of the job and then working the problem.
Risk is our business. As you rise in rank, you’ll have to do risk vs reward assessments. Sometimes you have to do something that most people think is stupid and hope for the best. But that doesn’t need to be the first tool in your tool box.
'Bravery, when called to action, should always take the strong ground on the basis of reason.'
Major General William Heath of the Continental Army said that in his memoirs. He wasn’t the bravest of generals, and it turned out he was better at administration, logistics, and diplomacy. But his statement about the balance of bravery and reason isn’t all wrong. My reading about him tells me that on at least three occasions, his decision that the risks of an operation outweighed the rewards saved many lives that might have been otherwise wasted attempting to engage in battles the fledgling Continental Army wasn’t prepared for. His issue was that he hadn’t heard of Captain James Kirk. He didn’t understand that risk was his business. That sometimes you have to put it all on the line for the chance of a win.
Risk is our business. Accept the risks, work the problem, get the job done. We’re Starfleet and the Federation Marines. This is what we do.
Congratulations to the Classes of 2397. It has been an honor to not just teach you, but to learn from you as well. Good luck to all of you in all of your endeavors.”
The audience applauded loudly. Braedyn’s students stood and clapped and soon others did, too. When the applause stopped, Braedyn swallowed a lump in his throat before calling up the first graduate of the flight program.
“Damn,” he thought. “I’m going to miss this job.”
