Rules of engagement
Alternate reality
For the DS9 episode, please see Rules of Engagement (episode).
For the Pocket TOS novel, please see Rules of Engagement (novel).
Rules of engagement were directives for handling a particular situation.
In 2258, Alexander Marcus declared that the rules of engagement, should one come across the fugitive John Harrison and fear for their own safety or that of those around them, dictated that they were authorized to use deadly force on sight. (Star Trek Into Darkness)