Rules of Engagement

Colonel Terry Childers, a decorated Marine, is deployed to Yemen to oversee the evacuation of the United States embassy amid escalating protests. The mission escalates when the embassy is attacked, leading Childers to order his Marines to open fire on the crowd, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. Upon returning to the United States, Childers is charged with war crimes for his role in the incident. The government is eager to put the blame on him to stave off international backlash and appoints Childers' old friend, Colonel Hays Hodges, to defend him. Despite their bond, Hodges struggles internally, grasping the severity of the allegations and his concerns about Childers' actions.

As preparations for the court-martial unfold, Hodges delves into the complex socio-political landscape surrounding the event. He faces obstacles while gathering evidence, including uncooperative witnesses and classified documents. Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by an ambitious and determined Major Biggs, builds a compelling case against Childers. Hodges must navigate through a web of concealed truths and ambiguous military orders to uncover what really happened during the chaotic embassy siege. With instinct and deduced strategic insights, he confronts moral questions about duty, command responsibility, and the fog of war. As tension mounts in the courtroom, Hodges fights not only for Childers' freedom but also for revealing a broader truth obscured by political agendas and the law of war.