Quicknation    Lockdown

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Lockdown is a an emergency protocol to prevent people or information escaping, which usually can only be ordered by someone in command. It is a common anti-terrorist measure in the wake of an atrocity and a popular plot-device in fiction.

In the wake of the September 11th Attacks a three day lockdown of American airspace was initiated to prevent any remaining perpatrators escaping.Similarly in the case of the London Underground attacks where London was locked down. In this case it was also a precaution to cut-off any further attacks. itself can be locked down (known as a database lock) if it comes under sustained serious vandal attack (levels of which are gauged using the 'Wikidefcon' system). This allows use of the system but no editing.

Lockdowns are a dramatic plot-device which may explain their popularity. Below are some famous examples;

In Men in Black 2 the base initiates a 'code 101' lockdown which seals off the building. The heroes escape by being 'flushed'In the Star Trek fictional universe starships can be locked down in order to prevent hijackings, notably the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode ", the British Government initiates a lockdown around Albion Hospital, where the comatose alien is being held, until exobiologists can examine it.