In The Conspiracy Chronicles series — The Meadow Protocol (Book One) and The Brush (Book Two) — characters operate under a structured set of fictional readiness conditions used to convey threat awareness, communications discipline, and operational posture without lengthy exposition.
These readiness systems provide a shared language inside the story, allowing decentralized groups to coordinate behavior, manage risk, and respond coherently as conditions evolve.
While fictional, the frameworks are inspired by real-world military, intelligence, and emergency-management doctrines, adapted for narrative clarity and plausibility.
Each readiness system uses five escalating levels (1–5). This overview explains what each system governs and how they work together. Detailed breakdowns of each level are available on their respective pages.
CERCON — Cerberus Readiness Condition
CERCON (Cerberus Readiness Condition) defines the perceived threat environment.
It answers the question:
How dangerous is the current situation?
CERCON reflects external pressure rather than internal intent. It considers factors such as:
- Surveillance activity
- Adversary posture
- Environmental instability
- Intelligence indicators
- Probability of imminent confrontation
As CERCON levels rise, characters adjust vigilance, movement, exposure, and defensive behavior — even if no overt action is yet authorized.
CERCON is often the first system to shift, serving as an early warning mechanism within the narrative.
COMCON — Communications Readiness Condition
COMCON (Communications Readiness Condition) governs how, when, and whether communications occur.
It answers the question:
How safely can we communicate right now?
COMCON addresses the reality that communications themselves create risk. Higher COMCON levels impose increasing restrictions on:
- Communication methods
- Message frequency
- Authentication requirements
- Emissions and digital footprint
- Assumptions about interception
In the story, changes in COMCON often force characters to rely on pre-planned signals, delayed messaging, or silence — increasing tension and uncertainty.
COMCON ensures that communication discipline keeps pace with threat conditions, rather than lagging behind them.
C-OPS — CERBERUS Operational Status Conditions
C-OPS (CERBERUS Operational Status Conditions) defines the overall operational posture of Cerberus-aligned cells and actors.
It answers the question:
What are we authorized to do right now?
C-OPS governs:
- Activity level
- Risk tolerance
- Resource commitment
- Authority to initiate action
- Transition from observation to execution
While CERCON measures danger and COMCON constrains communication, C-OPS directs behavior. It determines whether characters are monitoring, preparing, maneuvering, or actively executing operations.
C-OPS shifts tend to be the most consequential within the narrative, signaling turning points where intent becomes action.
How the Readiness Systems Work Together
The three systems are independent but interdependent:
- CERCON defines environmental risk
- COMCON defines communications discipline
- C-OPS defines operational activity
They do not always rise or fall together.
A high CERCON with a low C-OPS may indicate surveillance or intelligence gathering under dangerous conditions.
A high C-OPS combined with a restrictive COMCON reflects active operations under counter-surveillance pressure.
This layered approach allows characters to respond with nuance rather than binary “safe / unsafe” decisions.
COCNON — Civilian Continuity Conditions
COCNON (Civilian Continuity Conditions) is a separate framework, not associated with Cerberus operations.
COCNON is used by civilians at the Ranch once it becomes clear that PREPCON has passed and temporary preparedness measures are no longer sufficient. At that point, the population is no longer preparing for disruption — they are operating within it.
COCNON answers the question:
How are we sustaining civilian life now that normal conditions are gone?
COCNON governs:
- Daily routines and labor allocation
- Resource consumption and replenishment
- Governance and decision-making norms
- Security integration with civilian life
- Long-term sustainability vs short-term survival
Unlike readiness conditions focused on threat or action, COCNON represents acceptance of a new baseline reality. It marks the transition from contingency planning to continuity of life.
Narratively, COCNON underscores a critical shift: the crisis is no longer coming — it is ongoing.
Narrative Purpose
Within The Conspiracy Chronicles, readiness conditions serve several functions:
- Convey situational stakes quickly
- Reduce exposition while preserving clarity
- Establish shared expectations among characters
- Signal escalation or restraint without overt explanation
- Reflect disciplined, realistic decision-making under uncertainty
For readers, the systems act as contextual shorthand, subtly shaping how scenes are interpreted as conditions change.
A Fictional Framework with Real-World Roots
Although CERCON, COMCON, C-OPS, and COCNON are fictional constructs, they are deliberately modeled after real readiness and condition frameworks used by military, intelligence, and emergency organizations.
This grounding provides internal consistency while allowing flexibility for storytelling.
Readers interested in deeper detail can explore the dedicated pages for each system, where all five readiness levels and their specific implications are fully defined.