TACTICAL POLICIES

	Starfleet draws proudly upon the traditions of the navies of many 
worlds, most notably those of Earth. We honor our distinguished forebears in 
many ceremonial aspects of our service, yet there is a fundamental 
difference between Starfleet and those ancient military organizations. Those 
sailors of old saw themselves as warriors. It is undeniably true that 
preparedness for battle is an important part of our mission, but we of 
Starfleet see ourselves foremost as explorers and diplomats. This may seem 
a tenuous distinction, yet it has a dramatic influence on the way we deal with 
potential conflicts. When the soldiers of old pursued peace, the very nature 
of their organizations emphasized the option of using force when conflicts 
became difficult. That option had an inexorable way of becoming a self-
fulfilling prophecy.

	Today, peace is no easier than it was in ages past. Conflicts are real, 
and tensions can escalate at a momentÕs notice between adversaries who 
command awesome destructive forces. Yet we have finally learned a bitter 
lesson from our past: When we regard force as a primary option, that option 
will be exercised. StarfleetÕs charter, framed some two centuries ago after 
the brutal Romulan Wars, is based on a solemn commitment that force is not 
to be regarded as an option in interstellar relations unless all other options 
have been exhausted.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

	Although starships are fully equipped with sophisticated weaponry 
and defenses, Starfleet teaches its people to use every means at their 
disposal to anticipate and defuse potential conflict before the need for force 
arises. This, according to Federation mandate, is StarfleetÕs primary mode of 
conflict resolution. StarfleetÕs rules of engagement are firmly based on these 
principles. Due to the extended range of StarfleetÕs theater of operations, it is 
not uncommon for starships to be beyond realtime communications range of 
Starfleet Command. This means a starship captain often has broad 
discretionary powers in interpreting applicable Federation and Starfleet 
policies. The details of these rules are classified but the basics are as 
follows.

	A starship is regarded as an instrument of policy for the United 
Federation of Planets and its member nations. As such, its officers and crew 
are expected to exhaust every option before resorting to the use of force in 
conflict resolution. More important, Federation policy requires constant 
vigilance to anticipate potential conflicts and to take steps to avert them long 
before they escalate into armed combat.

	Perhaps the most dangerous conflict scenario is that of the unknown, 
technically sophisticated Threat force. This refers to a confrontation with a 
spacecraft or weapons system from an unknown culture whose spacefaring 
and/or weapons capability is estimated to be similar or superior to our own. 
In such cases, the lack of knowledge about the Threat force is a severe 
handicap in effective conflict resolution and in tactical planning. 
Complicating matters further, such conflicts are often First Contact 
scenarios, meaning cultural and sociologic analysis data are likely to be 
inadequate, yet further increasing the import of the contact in terms of future 
relationships with the Federation. For these reasons, Starfleet requires 
cultural and technologic assessment during all First Contact scenarios, even 
those that occur during combat situations in deep space. Rules of 
engagement further require that adequate precaution be taken to avoid 
exposure of the ship and its crew or Federation interests to unnecessary 
risk, even when a potential Threat force has not specifically demonstrated a 
hostile intent. There are, however, specific diplomatic conditions under 
which the starship will be considered expendable.

	More common than the unknown adversary is conflict with a known, 
technically sophisticated Threat force. This refers to confrontation with a 
spacecraft or weapons system from a culture with which contact has 
already been made, and whose spacefaring and/or weapons capability is 
similar or superior to our own, even if the specific spacecraft or weapons 
system is of an unknown type. In such cases, tactical planning has the 
advantage of at least some cultural and technologic background of the 
Threat force, and the shipÕs captain will have detailed briefings of Federation 
policies toward the Threat force. In general, starships are not permitted to 
fire first against any Threat force, and any response to provocation must be 
measured and in proportion to such provocation. Here again, Starfleet 
requires adequate precaution be taken to avoid excessive risk to the ship or 
other Federation interests.

	Much more limiting are conflicts with spaceborne Threat forces 
estimated to be substantially inferior in terms of weapons systems and 
spaceflight potential. Here again, the use of cultural and technologic 
assessment is of crucial importance. Prime Directive considerations may 
severely restrict tactical options to measured responses designed to reduce 
a Threat forceÕs ability to endanger the starship or third parties. Typically, 
this means limited strikes to disable weapons or propulsion systems only. 
Rules of engagement prohibit the destruction of such spacecraft except in 
extreme cases where Federation interests, third parties, or the starship itself 
are in immediate jeopardy.

	Even more difficult are conflicts in which a Starfleet vessel or the 
Federation itself is considered to be a third party. Such scenarios include 
civil and intrasystem conflicts or terrorist situations. In evaluating such 
cases, due care must be taken to avoid interference in purely local affairs. 
Still, there are occasionally situations where strategic or humanitarian 
considerations will require intervention. Starfleet personnel are expected to 
closely observe Prime Directive considerations in such cases.  Æ