From the referenced page:
Initial Merge: Once within icon range (8K or so), the fight is considered ON and anything goes at this point with the following exceptions:
1.Guns may not be fired until after the first merge.
Ok, begs the Question, "What's the first merge in your book?"
If the "Fight is considered ON" once you are in sight of each other, then it's on. Go guns on the first pass, and HO if you like. If you can't fire till after you have merged, the fight is NOT on until then.
Having a very small number of rules is fine, so long as they are very explicit and not open to interpretation.
(As far as the running thing goes, go ahead and run. We both have the same fuel load, and if your running from me, I bet I can make mine last longer.)
Ouch out