WINTER CONTINGENCY (protocol)

"Winter contingency has been declared. All units are mobilized and ready"

- UNSC Operator

WINTER CONTINGENCY is an official UNSC emergency plan that deals with situation where Covenant forces became aware of, or are present at, a UNSC colony. It was enacted by the UNSC on March 10, 2526.

Classification
Events which may be classified WINTER CONTINGENCY include:
 * Intercepted Covenant communications that refer to a UNSC Colony by name.
 * Discovery of hard physical evidence of Covenant activity.
 * Abandoned or discarded matériel.
 * Residue and/or damage consistent with Directed Energy Weapon usage.
 * Detection of multiple in-system Slipstream Space rupture events.
 * Engaged in combat by Covenant forces.

Trivia

 * The term WINTER CONTINGENCY is a report with the highest precedence in the OPREP-Γ reporting structure. All other reporting terms such as GOOSE CHASE, SNAKE PIT, et al, while very important, are considered secondary to a WINTER CONTINGENCY report.