We've detected an unknown air contact. Since it is not emitting we're not able to identify it using ESM, and we're currently out of range for our visual sensors to identify the contact.

In this scenario we know that we're expecting air threats, but there could be civilian or neutral aircraft in the area so we need to be careful to identify contacts as a threat before engaging them. In the real world, rules of engagement are clearly defined and usually very prescriptive. In Command, it is up to the scenario designer to give the player rules of engagement and determine whether they should be penalised for shooting indiscriminately or not.

In the absence of any specific direction from the scenario designer, the following are useful criteria for assessing the threat posed by an unidentified air contact--easily recalled using the mnemonic CRASH:

- Consorts: A lone aircraft is less likely to be a threat than a group of aircraft moving in formation
- Radiation: Radar or other emissions (e.g. OECM) can give information as to the possible identity and intentions of detected aircraft; detecting a fire-control radar is cause for immediate alarm.
- Altitude: Aircraft that are ascending or at high altitude are less threatening than aircraft that are descending or travelling at low altitude
- Speed: Aircraft travelling at slow speed are less likely to be a threat than aircraft travelling at high speed. Supersonic aircraft are nearly always cause for concern.
- Heading: Aircraft heading away from your units are less threatening than aircraft headed directly towards your units

Use the above criteria to evaluate air contacts as threats or non-threats in this scenario. For now, we will leave the specifics of any engagments to the AI crew: to order the crew to shoot down an air contact, select your destroyer, press F1 to order an automatic attack and click on the relevant contact. It will be designated hostile, and the crew will open fire with the most appropriate weapon when the contact enters engagement paramaters.

You will be presented with 6 target drones flying at various altitudes towards your ship. Note that all of these drones start an equal distance from your ship and are travelling at the same speed. Because they are flying at different altitudes, your radar will detect them at different times due to the radar horizon. Drones operating at high altitude will be detected at maximum range, while drones flying at minimum altitude will appear on your tactical map at an uncomfortably close range!

Using the F1 auto attack command (or the Shift-F1 manual attack command if you wish), destroy the two highest-flying drones with SM-2 missiles. Do not use SM-2s to engage any drones under 10,000ft; wasting your missiles on these lower flying drones will mean you will not be able to shoot down the high flying drones. We will engage the lower-flying drones with guns and close-in weapons systems (CIWS).