History Main / DefconFive

* The Dutch Hardstyle company [[https://www.q-dance.com/global/home Q-Dance]] has an open-air festival called [[https://defqon1.nl/en Defqon 1]], spelled with a Q instead of a C, as it is part of their naming gimmick.

* Parodied in the Flash cartoon ''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/267776 BadGuys]]'', where one of the characters activates an alarm and shouts "Go to Defcon 62!"

* During a {{Crossover}} between the {{webcomic}}s ''[[Webcomic/RoomiesItsWalkyJoyceAndWalky It's Walky!]]'' and ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'', a strip was originally drawn with this error. When readers pointed this out, the strip was [[http://www.itswalky.com/d/20030508.html corrected]], with a note of thanks added to those who mentioned the error (though it was not included later in the StripArchive).

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E5ThePoisonSky "The Poison Sky"]] averts it by correctly using DEFCON 1 when UNIT is preparing to launch a nuclear strike at the Sontaran ship.

Compare with TheWarOnTerror, for the color system that is often parodied for its vagueness.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film — Animated]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

-->Situation Def Con Five
-->No one gets out of here alive

[[folder:Stand-Up Comedy]]
* Creator/RonWhite had a joke about his mother calling him about a change in the "Heightened State of Awareness." He came up with a simple change.
--> '''Ron:''' Here's my solution for the Heightened State of Awareness. '''1.''' Go find a helmet. '''2.''' Put on the damn helmet.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

-->'''Paul''': (sarcastically) Oooh, Defcon 4. Just so you know, Defcon 4 is not that scary. The US is currently at Defcon 3.\\
'''Graham''': Defcon 3 is worse, by the way.

* [[Website/FourChan /pol/]] has a semi-humorous bend on this trope called HAPPENINGCON -- a measurement of whether something big is unfolding in American and international politics. HAPPENINGCON 5 is "It hasn't even begun", 4 is "You didn't listen", 3 is "You could have prevented this", 2 is "IT'S HAPPENING!", and 1 is "IT HAPPENED".

* ''Series/Supergirl2014'': In "Solitude," the President orders DEFCON 2 after [[spoiler: Indigo launches a US nuclear missile at National City]]. Normally, this wouldn't be cause for a DEFCON change, since it's [[spoiler: a US weapon being misused rather than a military threat from an outside power]].

* DEFCON 2: War is imminent. Armed Forces ready to deploy and engage in less than 6 hours — this is the highest level ever reached in history[[note]]This would have been during the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 22, 1962. Only the Strategic Air Command (the nuclear bombers) were at DEFCON 2, the rest of the military was maintained at DEFCON 3 throughout the crisis[[/note]]. Code Name: FAST PACE

This is incorrect, and this trope is about the misuse of these terms. DEFCON 5 (codename "FADE OUT"[[note]]These codenames are used during exercises to avoid confusion with the real deal[[/note]]) is the ''lowest'' state of alert, aka completely tranquil peace time. DEFCON 1 (codename "[[DramaticGunCock COCKED PISTOL]]") is the highest, referring to a confirmed state of nuclear war. The use of nuclear weapons is authorized here, but they will still require unlock codes from high authority. The highest state reached for the Strategic Air Command in US history was DEFCON 2 (codename "FAST PACE", during the Cuban Missile Crisis), the Gulf War also led to forces in the Middle East reaching DEFCON 2, for obvious reasons — i.e., actually being at war. The Yom Kippur War of 1973 saw a brief period at DEFCON 3 (codename "ROUND HOUSE", with some forces in the Middle East being at 2), as did 9/11. It's important to note that DEFCON levels can be limited to geographical regions, DEFCON 2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Gulf War were limited to the affected regions. The highest that the worldwide DEFCON level has ever risen to is 3.

This is incorrect, and this trope is about the misuse of these terms. DEFCON 5 (codename "FADE OUT"[[note]]These codenames are used during exercises to avoid confusion with the real deal[[/note]]) is the ''lowest'' state of alert, aka completely tranquil peace time. DEFCON 1 (codename "[[DramaticGunCock COCKED PISTOL]]") is the highest, referring to a confirmed state of nuclear war. The use of nuclear weapons is authorized here, but they will still require unlock codes from high authority. The highest state reached for the Strategic Air Command in US history was DEFCON 2 (codename "FAST PACE", during the Cuban Missile Crisis), the Gulf War also led to forces in the Middle East reaching DEFCON 2, for obvious reasons -- i.e., actually being at war. The Yom Kippur War of 1973 saw a brief period at DEFCON 3 (codename "ROUND HOUSE", with some forces in the Middle East being at 2), as did 9/11. It's important to note that DEFCON levels can be limited to geographical regions, DEFCON 2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Gulf War were limited to the affected regions. The highest that the worldwide DEFCON level has ever risen to is 3.

The UK did once operate a 'Queen's Order' level which escalated from 1 to 5, [=QO1=] being the peacetime default and [=QO5=] meaning (at the time) that the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_bombers V-bombers]] had started their [probably] one way trip to enemy territory. The current system, dubbed the UK Threat Levels, doesn't use numbers at all, instead ranking the current likelihood of attack on a scale from Low to Critical (its most recent predecessor, the now-defunct BIKINI scale, used colours). However, these levels do not correspond to US Defcon levels - for example, the UK reached a "critical" Threat Level in 2006 and 2007. Thus, there is currently no real UK equivalent. Other countries have their own status levels, in some cases where this trope is played straight, in others they use phrases or colours instead.

* DEFCON 5: Lowest state of readiness - this is the normal state of readiness in peacetime. Code name: FADE OUT

* DEFCON 3: Increase in force readiness above that required for normal readiness. Air Force ready to mobilize in 15 minutes - this is the first truly "shit is about to get real" phase of the levels. Code Name: ROUND HOUSE
* DEFCON 2: War is imminent. Armed Forces ready to deploy and engage in less than 6 hours - this is the highest level ever reached in history[[note]]This would have been during the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 22, 1962. Only the Strategic Air Command (the nuclear bombers) were at DEFCON 2, the rest of the military was maintained at DEFCON 3 throughout the crisis[[/note]]. Code Name: FAST PACE

!!Examples

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* ''Series/TopGear'' got it wrong too, where Clarkson stepping up his Bugatti Veyron (the world's fastest-ever production car) to no-spoiler fast mode took him from Defcon 3 to 4. Clarkson has also announced that it's time to go to '[[ReadingsAreOffTheScale Defcon Stig]]' once.

** Michael also has an ''interesting'' take on threat level", as evidenced by his Michael Scarn film "Threat Level: Midnight."
* In ''Series/MadMen'' (season 6 episode 1), Peggy knows the correct usage but she is annoyed by Burt Peterson who gets it wrong twice. First he uses DEFCON 4 as a synonym for a crisis and then when told he has it backwards he says they are at DEFCON 0.
* {{Lampshaded}} by ''Series/ThirtyRock'':
-->'''Liz''': Listen up, jagweeds, it's go time. We are at Defcon Five here!\\
'''Toofer''': The ''lowest'' level of defense preparedness? Fantastic.
* ''Series/ChicagoFire'' manages to avert this in the aptly named episode "Defcon One." The episode focus on the serial arsonist upping his campaign against Firehouse 51. In a sub plot line, a rival bar starts to actively sabotage Herrman's bar. When he mentions they just went to DEFCON 5, Otis quietly mentions that is in fact the lowest level.
* ''Series/ByAnyMeans'' 1x06: Charlie is trying to persuade Jessica to take things easy, telling her "It's like that whole DEFCON thing. You have DEFCON 1 then DEFCON 2 - you don't just start at DEFCON 5, do you?" She corrects him: "Yeah, actually you do - you start at DEFCON 5, work your way up to 1!"

* In ''{{Series/Community}}'' episode "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics":
-->'''Dean Pelton''': From this moment, people, we are at DEFCON 4, if that's the highest DEFCON, and if high [=DEFCONs=] are worse than low ones.
* In the ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' episode "The Lizard-Spock Expansion", Leonard describes Howard's situation with the Mars rover as "Defcon 5". Sheldon corrects him, using the page quote, and [[DistractingDisambiguation the conversation gets derailed into a discussion]] of the merits of the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' films.

* Generally averted in ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. The Colonial Fleet uses Condition One as the highest level of alert readiness. However, in the episode "Pegasus," Adama commits this error after the eponymous battlestar is identified. He orders the fleet to step down to Condition One, when he should have ordered them to step down to Condition Three.

* During a {{Crossover}} between the {{webcomic}}s ''[[WebComic/RoomiesItsWalkyJoyceAndWalky It's Walky!]]'' and ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'', a strip was originally drawn with this error. When readers pointed this out, the strip was [[http://www.itswalky.com/d/20030508.html corrected]], with a note of thanks added to those who mentioned the error (though it was not included later in the StripArchive).

* Generally averted in ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. The Colonial Fleet uses Condition One as the highest level of alert readiness. However, in the episode "Pegasus," Adama commits this error after the eponymous battlestar is identified. He orders the fleet to step down to Condition One, when he should have ordered them to step down to Condition Step.

* In ''Film/IndependenceDay'', the president says, "We may need to upgrade to Defcon 3", [[FridgeBrilliance which could either be correct or incorrect. Either way, no one could accuse them of screwing up.]]

* Interestingly [[AvertedTrope averted]] in ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut''. When Riley's family is at the dinner table and Riley's Anger starts to act out, causing Mr. Anderson o get angry, and his Anger takes it to DEFCON 2, after which another outburst from Riley cues "Putting The Foot Down" (being sent to her room). Further, they don't declare Defcon One when they Put The Foot Down, suggesting his "nuclear option" is more serious.

* In ''Series/TheWestWing'' before President Bartlet delivers the State of the Union, he runs over what to do in a nightmare scenario with his designated survivor, the Secretary of Agriculture. Namely, he should get the military together, make the proper command assignments, and take the US to Defcon 4. The entire government could explode, but what's left would be pretty relaxed, all things considered.

* Parodied in the flash cartoon ''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/267776 BadGuys]]'', where one of the characters activates an alarm and shouts "Go to Defcon 62!"

* During a CrossOver between the {{webcomic}}s ''[[WebComic/RoomiesItsWalkyJoyceAndWalky It's Walky!]]'' and ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'', a strip was originally drawn with this error. When readers pointed this out, the strip was [[http://www.itswalky.com/d/20030508.html corrected]], with a note of thanks added to those who mentioned the error (though it was not included later in the StripArchive).

* ''The Young Turks'' have a running gag of mocking people who invoke this trope with the SarcasmMode declaration, "Defcon 28 is imminent!"

* A conservative radio show host threatened to go to [[UpToEleven DEFCON 6]] if California's ban on same-sex marriage was overturned, which [[CriticalResearchFailure if taken at face value]] meant he intended to just give up.

In some movies, the phrase "Defcon 5" or DEFense Readiness CONdition 5 is used to refer to the highest state of alert for the United States Armed Forces.

In some movies, the phrase "Defcon 5" ("DEFense Readiness CONdition 5") is used to refer to the highest state of alert.

In some movies, the phrase "Defcon 5" (DEFense Readiness CONdition 5) is used to refer to the highest state of alert.

In some movies, the phrase "Defcon 5" is used to refer to the highest state of alert.

* Interestingly Avterted in ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut''. When Riley's family is at the dinner table and Riley's Anger starts to act out, causing Mr. Anderson o get angry, and his Anger takes it to DEFCON 2, after which another outburst from Riley cues "Putting The Foot Down" (being sent to her room). Further, they don't declare Defcon One when they Put The Foot Down, suggesting his "nuclear option" is more serious.

* Used correctly in the last episode of ''[[Franchise/SentouYouseiYukikaze Yukikaze.]]'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPVDp0QvGlo The FAF fleet goes to DEFCON I]] as they approach the Passageway to evacuate Fairy... which is guarded by a literal ''[[ZergRush wall of JAM.]]''

* In ''X-Men (1991)'' #2, this is used correctly by ComicBook/NickFury, who warns Storm's Gold Strike Force that the US has gone to DEFCON 1 in accordance to the Magneto Protocols, as they are preparing to fire a nuclear-powered laser at Asteroid M due to the fact that ComicBook/{{Magneto}} had stolen a collection of nuclear missiles salvaged from a submarine he destroyed years earlier.

* Actually used correctly in ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut''. When the emotions inside Riley's dad's head note the possibility of a conflict with his daughter, they raise the alert level in his head to "Defcon 2".

* In ''Film/CrimsonTide'', Defcon 2 is the level at which the ''USS Alabama'' is authorized and directed to launch its nuclear missiles at Russian military targets, particularly land-based silos that are prepping to launch themselves. Contrast to ''Film/WarGames'', in which no strikes were ever authorized. This might be intentional, though, as the US is not at war with another nation--the nukes are aimed at a GeneralRipper who's commandeered a Russian nuclear base, not Russia in general.
** It went through the scale properly:
*** The mission started at DEFCON 4 when the Russian general command lost control of the base to the GeneralRipper.
*** DEFCON 3 was invoked when the Russian launch codes were compromised, i.e. Launch Possible.
*** DEFCON 2 was when fuel trucks were parked at the silos, i.e. Launch Imminent.

* Done correctly in ''Film/TheSantaClause 2'', of all places, where the North Pole's "Elfcon" warning system goes from five to one.

* Averted in ''Film/{{Salt}}'', [[spoiler:In the White House's bunker, one of the President's Cabinet correctly changes the Defcon level from '4' to '2'.]]
* Averted in ''Film/ThirteenDays'', where General Taylor specifically mentions that the US is not at war until DEFCON 1. The context is that President Kennedy was furious with the general for putting SAC forces up to DEFCON 2 in spite of his orders to only stand up to DEFCON 3, as the US now looks more aggressive than he wanted.
* Completely and utterly averted in ''Film/WarGames''. JOSHUA causes the US to go to DEFCON 1, which is correctly stated to be a state of nuclear readiness, and when JOSHUA is stopped and the day is saved, it is moved to DEFCON 5. WordOfGod originally believed they got it wrong when they wrote the story.

* Creator/TerryPratchett uses it metaphorically in ''Discworld/WitchesAbroad'': "Asking someone to repeat a phrase you'd not only heard very clearly but were also exceedingly angry about was around Defcon 2 in the lexicon of squabble."
* Also using metaphorically and correctly in Creator/StephenKing's non-fiction essay ''Head Down'' (about his son Owen's championship-winning Little League season) there is a scene where King is driving his son and a few of his friends back from a game. One of the boys really, ''really'' needs to take a leak. They find a gas station "just as [his] bladder is going to DEFCON-1".

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Poison Sky, Colonel Mace uses the correct term when he declares that NATO has gone to DEFCON 1 to meet the Sontaran threat.
* Used correctly in ''Series/StargateSG1'', such as the episode ''Full Alert''. The progress from condition to condition is treated with appropriate gravity.

* Used mostly correctly in one episode of ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}'': Defcon 5 was used at the beginning and was elevated to Defcon 2 after a nuclear missile was launched at National City. Given that there was an actual inbound missile that was minutes from impact, the Defcon level probably should have been set to 1 rather than 2, but it was still using the correct order of escalation.

[[folder:Pinball]]
* Averted in ''VideoGame/RuinerPinball''; the peacetime at the start of the game is DEFCON 5, and the player must raise it to DEFCON 1 and start WorldWarIII.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Used correctly in ''TabletopGames/TwilightStruggle'', which is to be expected for a game set in the Cold War. The level restricts where on the map aggressive actions are allowed (at DEFCON 4 coups and realignments are generally banned in Europe, at 3 add Asia, at 2 add the Middle East), and if the DEFCON ever falls to 1 the nukes fly and [[NonStandardGameOver the loser is whoever's turn it was]].
[[/folder]]

* In VideoGame/ActOfWar, and its SpiritualSuccessor VideoGame/ActOfAggression, the US tech tree is represented by the DEFCON system. At DEFCON 3 (the starting level) they're limited to basic infantry and light armor units; DEFCON 2 they break out the heavy armor (including the mighty Abrams tank) and attack aircraft; at DEFCON 1, the special forces come to the front lines and Tactical Nuclear weapons are authorized for use.
* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2: Yuri's Revenge'' uses it correctly in the intro cinematic (considering the situation that the BigBad is about to set off psychic superweapons that will mind-control everyone on the planet), with a background voice stating "we are now at Defcon 2".

* The aptly-named ''{{VideoGame/Defcon}}'' correctly goes through the entire scale as part of regular gameplay. The game starts at Defcon 5 (which is the phase where you place your assets on the map), non-nuclear attacks become available at Defcon 3, short-range nuclear attacks are available at Defcon 2, and ICBM nuclear launches are only authorized once the game has reached Defcon 1 (and continues until most of the nukes in the game are launched).
* ''VideoGame/CounterSpy'' uses the scale correctly as the overarching threat in the game. Both sides start at Defcon 3, and they go up as you get detected by cameras, allow the guards to radio in after spotting you, or die. If a Defcon is raised again when it's at 1, the game turns into a TimedMission where the player has to get to the end immediately and shut down the launching nukes. Fail to do this? GameOver!
* Averted in ''VideoGame/KaijuAGogo''. The game correctly counts down to One as your kaiju rampages longer and stronger forces are brought in to try and beat it back.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'', it changes levels correctly at various points within the campaign until the final mission in which it is lowered to Defcon 1. It is also reversed in the zombies level "Five", where the player has to lower the DEFCON rating from 1 to 5 to open the way to the Pack-a-Punch machine.
* Used more or less correctly in ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}'', with the level title "We are now at LEMCON One". The title is fine, but the only problem is, this is midway through the Fun levels, and not really very threatening at all.
* Done correctly in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''. The Americans go into Defcon 3 when NORAD detects unidentified targets, and move onto Defcon 2 when they're confirmed to be multiple Soviet [=ICBMs=] targeting the west coast, and the Americans prepare their own missiles in response.
* Averted in the Cold War campaign on ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'', which has a global threat meter that starts at DEFCON 5 and is represented by a meter with one single green light. Any reckless act of aggression will decrease the DEFCON level, represented by your on-screen meter displaying yellow and red lights. When the DEFCON level hits 1, both blocs will be able to launch all the nukes they have, possibly resulting in nobody winning if both sides have enough to wipe out each other.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/{{Tropico}} 4'', where a mission requires you to keep tabs on the DEFCON number. This number goes down if you fail a quest or get hit by ill-intentioned foreign parties, but you can increase it by organizing a Pan-Caribbean Summit among other things. You want to keep the DEFCON level as high as possible, and if you hit DEFCON 1, the world goes to war and you fail the scenario.

* [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2900/fc02871.htm Used correctly]] in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}''. Clippy is known to be carrying several software weapons, so when his owner is trying to calm things down after a near-crisis, he gives the order "We are at DEFCON five. Archive and lock all offensive software."
* Webcomic/BugMartini: Nerdbug (correctly) declares Defcon One, to which Bug tries to [[http://www.bugmartini.com/comic/hot-headed-actors/ dramatically apply topical cream.]]

* Averted in ''WebOriginal/ZhirinovskysRussianEmpire'': DEFCON 1 is used to indicate [[spoiler:America is ready to attack the UIS if they try to invade Kosovo]].

* A version of this in ''WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters'', has an alert system that starts at '[=DefDump=] 5' and correctly gets lower as the situation intensifies.
* Semi-correct in ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', when Skipper briefly considers declaring "Defcon Red", (the coordinating color to Defcon 2). When Marlene asks what that means, Skipper says "Classified. Just hope you never live to see one, sister."
* Santa's Workshop gets it right in ''WesternAnimation/MickeysTwiceUponAChristmas'', of all places. The code for catastrophe is "Elf-Con 1".
* ''WesternAnimation/CodeMonkeys'' gets it right in the episode "Trouble in the Middle East", as a US general explains what they think [[{{Qurac}} Khakistan]] is up to, with every [[ItMakesSenseInContext ImpalaVision game console stolen]], an animation on the top of the screen correctly goes from DEFCON 5 to DEFCON 1.