History Main / RedAlert

*** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E12TheStolenEarth "The Stolen Earth"]]: UNIT starts off the episode on Red Alert because, well, look at the title. When they learn [[spoiler:the [[OmnicidalManiac Daleks]]]] are attacking, they switch to ''[[UpToEleven Ultimate]]'' [[FromBadToWorse Red Alert]].

* In ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'', Dot Matrix's "Virgin Alarm" goes off with a flashing red decal in her chestplate and a klaxon which Barf mistakes for an AbandonShip alarm.

* In the Age Of Sail, drums were commonly used to sound the alarm - the English Royal Navy of this era ordered it to be done with "Beat to Quarters!", realistically depicted in ''Film/MasterAndCommander'' (see above) - since they could be heard throughout the ship. This was not only done when they had spotted an enemy, but would also sometimes be done as a matter of routine at daybreak, as this was the time they were most likely to be sighted by an enemy, meaning it was best to be prepared for a fight.

* ''Film/MasterAndCommander'' has a scene where a [[PluckyMiddie middie]] on night watch suspects an enemy ship is nearby in the fog. Uncertain, he still calls "We shall beat to quarters!". We then see the Napoleonic War version of a ship going into Red Alert and the midshipman's decision proves most prudent as the ship is fired upon and the crew is ready for battle.
** The midshipman is actually reluctant to sound the alarm, so a more decisive officer does so on his behalf. Unfortunately the crew witnessed his indecision -- this and other events cause him to lose their respect.

* In the Age Of Sail, drums were commonly used to sound the alarm, since they could be heard throughout the ship. This was not only done when they had spotted an enemy, but would also sometimes be done as a matter of routine at daybreak, as this was the time they were most likely to be sighted by an enemy, meaning it was best to be prepared for a fight.

* Some retail businesses such as UsefulNotes/{{Walmart}} have color-coded alerts announced over the [=PA=] system to advise employees of emergencies such as a natural disaster (code black), armed person on store grounds (code brown), medical emergency (code white), bomb threat (code blue), and fire (code red), among others. This includes the dreaded Code Adam ([[AdultFear missing child]]).

** The TARDIS has what could be considered a type of Red Alert, the cloister bell, which rings to signify a galactic disaster, i.e. the end of the universe. In the new series, it has also been used to signify a serious threat to the TARDIS.

The phrase "Red Alert" comes from the naval tradition of "General Quarters" (also known as "Battle Stations", or "Action Stations" if you're British), an announcement made when a ship prepares for battle. Whatever the wording used, most of the procedures are the same. The alert is sounded by a drum or over an intercom. Off-duty sailors report to their stations, cannon are loaded, and the decks are cleared of non-essential items. On modern ships, lights flash, klaxons sound and all watertight doors are closed, thus if the ship is holed the leak is contained. '''BREET BREET''' Ah, great. See SelfDemonstrating/RedAlert right away, the Wiki's gone on SelfDemonstratingArticle mode. '''BREET BREET GENERAL QUARTERS'''. Often accompanied with ThisIsNotADrill.

** Double Red Alert - Extreme and immediate danger, e.g. a bomb on board is about to explode.

** There was also a rarely used "Condition Green" which was a distress code to alert the receiver that the landing party had been captured. Given how often it happened, you'd think it would get heard more often. One reason why it wasn't was that it was specified to mean "The landing party has been captured, but don't take any immediate action!".

* ''Literature/ThereWillComeSoftRains''. When the SmartHouse is on fire, it shouts repeated warnings of "Fire!" and "Run!", the irony being that its residents have long since been killed in a nuclear war.

* In ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesofGold'' fic, ''Fanfic/VoiceOfTheCondor'', an alarm goes off when the third City of Gold starts sealing itself due to the volcano it's nestled on, coupled with a woman on the P.A. counting down the minutes before the lockdown finishes.

* In ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesofGold'' fic, ''FanWorks/VoiceOfTheCondor'', an alarm goes off when the third City of Gold starts sealing itself due to the volcano it's nestled on, coupled with a woman on the P.A. counting down the minutes before the lockdown finishes.

* In the ''Anime/MysteriousCitiesofGold'' fic, ''FanWorks/VoiceOfTheCondor'', an alarm goes off when the third City of Gold starts sealing itself due to the volcano it's nestled on, coupled with a woman on the P.A. counting down the minutes before the lockdown finishes.

* Britain's version of [[DefconFive the DEFCON system]] was the BIKINI alert system, which operates in this manner. The colour scale consists of (in ascending order) White, Black, [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Black Special]], Amber and Red. It was replaced by "UK Threat Level" system in 2006, which isn't a color-coded system.

[[caption-width-right:350:All hands to battlestations!]]

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RedAlertTropeImage_5413.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:All hands to battlestations!]]

The phrase "Red Alert" comes from the naval tradition of "General Quarters" ("Action Stations" if you're British), where a ship prepares for battle. Much of the procedures are the same. The alert is sounded by a drum or over an intercom. Off-duty sailors report to their stations, cannon are loaded, and the decks are cleared of non-essential items. On modern ships, lights flash, klaxons sound and all watertight doors are closed, thus if the ship is holed the leak is contained. '''BREET BREET''' Ah, great. See SelfDemonstrating/RedAlert right away, the Wiki's gone on SelfDemonstratingArticle mode. '''BREET BREET GENERAL QUARTERS'''. Often accompanied with ThisIsNotADrill.

* In the opening scene of ''Fanfic/RocketshipVoyager'', the Tactical Psionics officer detects an incoming vessel and orders General Quarters and the rocketship set to Material Condition Zebra.

* ''Radio/XMinusOne'''s "[[Recap/XMinusOneE037TheCChute The C-Chute]]": At the start of the episode, a klaxon rings over the intercom, preceding the announcement of the Kloran ship. With the ship on "Condition Red", all crew are supposed to go to their stations while the passengers are confined to one cabin.
-->'''SFX''' "Now hear this, Condition Red, Condition Red. We are under attack from a Kloran battle cruiser. All hands forward to battle stations. Passengers will remain confined to the aftercabin. Condition Red, we are being attacked, Condition Red."

We have only [[TitleDrop fourteen hours to save the Earth]].\\

* Happens several times in the anime ''Manga/HanaukyoMaidTeam'' (both seasons) when an emergency occurs in the mansion, sometimes with rotating lights and sirens.

* In ''VideoGame/StarTrekArmada II'', alerts contain a different approach, Green alert is were a ship will not attack unless given a strict order to do so (This includes not firing back), Yellow alert will have ships fire at enemy ships and stations if fired upon, Red alert (Default) has ships attack enemy ships and stations if there in range.
* In ''VideoGame/StarTrekBridgeCommander'', you can order Saffi (your first officer) to set the ship's alert status. Green alert is shields and weapons offline, yellow alert brings up shields to 100% power for protecting the ship from minor hazards (nebulae, etc.) and red alert brings up shields and weapons.
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' features condition red when the player engages an enemy, both in space and on away missions which prevents the player from performing non-combat actions such as full impulse.

* Happens several times in the anime ''Anime/HanaukyoMaidTai'' (both seasons) when an emergency occurs in the mansion, sometimes with rotating lights and sirens.

* ''Film/DiamondsAreForever''. Occurs at an American missile base in North Dakota just before Blofeld's KillSat attacks with its [[FrickinLaserBeams laser beam]].