What does DEFCON 2 indicate?

DEFCON 2 indicates a state of heightened military readiness just one step away from full mobilization. This level requires forces to be prepared to deploy and engage in situations of significant tension or imminent conflict, though it is not the maximum readiness state. At DEFCON 2, military forces are prepared for rapid deployment, and command structures are on heightened alert, ready to respond to escalated threats.

The context of the other options illustrates a range of readiness levels: normal operational capacity does not reflect an increased state of alert; heightened alert without an immediate threat suggests a lesser degree of urgency than DEFCON 2; and the indication that military engagements are imminent aligns more closely with DEFCON 1, where mobilization and action are unavoidable. Therefore, being at DEFCON 2 specifically denotes that the military is ready for a crisis situation, which aligns with the definition of further increased force readiness, although still one step short of maximum readiness.