The Directives supersedes all other standing orders and general directives, including the Prime Directive, and dictates that once the molecule has been detected the primary goal is to locate and destroy the molecule by any means possible. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the directive, information regarding its existence is on a strictly need-to-know basis for captains and above. Normally a specially trained Omega team is called in to deal with any situations involving the particle; if this team is not available, the Captain is authorized to deal with the situation by any means they deem necessary. (VOY episode: "The Omega Directive")