Definition of cautious. : careful about avoiding danger or risk cautious investors cautious optimism.
37 CFR 5.2 Secrecy order. ( 1 a) When notified by the chief officer of a defense agency that publication or disclosure of the invention by the granting of a patent would be detrimental to the national security, an order that the invention be kept secret will be issued by the Commissioner for Patents.
An unlawful order is an order to do an act that is illegal. therefore you cannot be compelled to follow it, or disciplined for disobeying the order. Also you will be held resonsible for the illegal act and cannot use just following orders as a defense.