DG's ROE would change slightly for each mission based upon its particulars but these are the general guidelines I use for mission briefings and ROEs in my campaign. First, the Agents receive their "Night at the Opera" e-mails or phone calls.  All this sets up is a place for them to meet with ALPHONSE or another DG representative, serving essentially as a Warning Order for the cell.  At the meet, they receive their true operational orders. 

Their Operational Order consists of the following sections:
Mission Details:
A) Mission Overview: What exactly is to be accomplished, be it examine a possible haunted house to a full-scale attack on a Majestic facility.
B) Enemy Order of Battle- This is what opposition is expected, anything from possible paranormal force in residence to estimated large cult force with heavy weapons.  Should only be as detailed as could be reasonably expected before scenario begins.  Many times it would be: enemy activity expected, exact forces unknown.
C) Terrain & Weather Conditions- Can be as brief or detailed as you want or need, anything from "four building compound and rainy" to details about sunrise/sunset, tides and so on.
D) Support Available- Agents and Friendlies either assigned to the mission or in the area to possibly support the operation, weapons and other equipment available from A-Cell or local Green Boxes, communications, finance and so on for the mission.
E) Time Constraints- Self-explanatory
F) Miscellaneous Intelligence- Any other intelligence pertinent to the mission (Great place to give out other handouts or drop a few hints to newbies or the clueless)

Security Plan:
A) Mission code names/code words- The code name for the mission, contacts, and so on.
B) Cover stories and related plans- Any and all details about the covers being used by the Agents
C) Mission-specific operational security measures- Anything special about the mission (Don't disclose details of the mission to this Support Friendly, be aware of Phenom-X or SaucerWatch ops in the area, etc.)


Rules of Engagement:

Generally, the ROEs in my campaign start with an operation classification.  They are-

Clandestine- Complete covers are being used, probably even to the point that the Cell is not using its Federal status.  These are very low-profile missions with the Cell posing as Journalists or other Media, Private Investigators, and the like.  Actions are limited and firepower is minimal in accordance with the cover.  This is used for sensitive investigations and surveillance or missions where you want to reign in the cell (No grenade launchers and SWAT teams for that night in the haunted house).

Covert- Here the Federal covers (or a Federal cover) is used and the powers of the cell can be used a bit more freely.  They are still expected to act as responsible Federal officials and maintain that cover, using arrest powers and the like as much as possible.  They have more freedom and powers but a degree of public exposure and responsibility at this level (Too many dead suspects are going to raise questions, etc.).  This would be like the Chicago Tcho-Tcho deportations in Countdown, most of the actions were within the system with only the most dangerous being dealt with quietly outside of it.  Support will generally be reflective of the cells position and status in the Federal hierarchy- standard firearms and equipment, needed law enforcement back-up, etc., depending on the size of the operation.

Overt- This is the no-holds barred operations and should be rare.  There is little or no need for secrecy (and little chance of it, anyway) and only the paranormal threat and DG involvement should be covered up.  These are the Wacos, the raids on OUTLOOK, and so on.  These operations let the players play with the big boys, possibly having all sorts of heavy support.  Pay them back with the ramifications of such "fun" with media exposure, Congressional inquiries, major Majestic retaliation and whatever else you can think of to make their lives difficult.  Scenarios can also be spun off of these to deal with the more "mundane" side of DG, such as covering up the evidence, lying before Congress and so on.

After that initial description, I have the following ROEs in effect for the Cells:

• All Majestic involvement in an operation should be reported immediately to A-Cell before proceeding
• All involvement with possible foreign paranormal forces (PISCES, GRU SV-8) should be reported immediately to A-Cell.
• All contact with PARIAH (Alzis) should be reported immediately to A-Cell
• All large-scale paranormal situations (Summoned GOOs/OGs, Cthonians destroying Samson, CA) should be reported immediately to A-Cell (This allows a bit of continuity in the campaign if the cell gets eaten as A-Cell knows about the situation and can dispatch another cell of PCs with the knowledge of the old cell)
  

Other ROEs that can be considered on a case by case basis are:

• Plans for silencing witnesses
• Possible innocents involved
• Suspected or known compromise of the cell
• Target or Cover priority (which is more important)
• Alternate targets, faulty intelligence, and other mission-changing contingencies
• Anything as GM can be realized ahead of time to be a special point for the scenario

Planning & Briefback:

The cell must then plan their operation and report back to A-Cell or their representative how they intend to conduct the mission.  This allows the GM to have an idea what they are going to do to avoid problems during play, assist newbies who might be lost on what powers they have (or don't have), and simply veto incredibly bad or inappropriate plans.  The cell then gets what it needs and heads off to the mission.

After-Action Debriefing:
After the mission, the cell must make a detailed report and answer questions on the operation.  I use this to gauge what future intelligence support is available from A-Cell.  If they get lazy and cut out a bunch of details, then their future intel is given in the same way.  They give a good report and future intel and support is better.  Finally, it's time for a drink at the Green Bar…



disclaimer:
Just because you establish ROEs, give out intelligence, and require planning does not mean that the scenario should be just a matter of going through the motions.  The ROEs should provide moral dilemmas and judgement calls for the Agents.  The intelligence should be a starting point and in most cases should be incomplete or faulty (though a good surprise to spring on players once in awhile is for it to be completely on the money, they don't expect it).  And as the old saying goes, no plan survives first contact with the enemy.  This is intend to show the players that they are still part of hierarchy, with a chain of command and benefits and drawbacks to their involvement with Delta Green, not simply loose cannons with a license to kill and DG covering-up their tracks.


As always, use, abuse or ignore as you wish…
-Dave K