What do you have to do before you go "operational?"

Speaking in a general sense, one would have to prepare and communicate. Speaking in a more specific sense for say, military operation, and if we're assuming Q is a military operation, Congress would have to declare war, or the President would need to use his War Powers authority and notify Congress, OR the President would need to call out the Militia (NG) for federal use (in times of invasion and/or insurrection and rebellion). POTUS can keep Militia (NG) active for 9 months. I'd imagine that POTUS has to declare the existence of invasion, insurrection/rebellion in order to justify calling up and deploying of Militia (NG)

I'm guessing Q went operational before Sept 2017?