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The villain has betrayed his team, or his country, or the entire human race. Now, he's been defeated... but there's just one complication. If the traitor's guilt is revealed, there will be consequences -- perhaps his friends will seek revenge, or perhaps good people will also be dragged down, or perhaps the people's confidence in the whole system will be shaken.
 
One solution: cover the whole thing up. Perhaps the traitor can be [[Vigilante Man|punished discreetly]] or [[Leave Behind a Pistol|persuaded to eliminate himself rather than be disgraced]], or perhaps the heroes just have to suck it up and accept that he's [[Villain Withwith Good Publicity|untouchable]], at least for now. Often, the question is rendered moot, as the villain's defeat lead naturally to his death. In such cases, it is not uncommon for them [[Never Speak Ill of the Dead|to be reported as having died a hero]], often with the implication that they were killed stopping the very evil they had, in reality, unleashed. (Note that if the character really did die stopping it, it is [[Redemption Equals Death]], and while the heroes are likely to soften or hide his crimes, the motive will be different.)
 
Note this is also a useful plot device so "fictional" stories can [[Plausible Deniability|pretend to have really happened]], it was just "covered up".
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== Anime and Manga ==
* [[Ghost in Thethe Shell]]: used frequently. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell\]
* The second ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'' movie ends with a coverup. {{spoiler|Light's family is led to believe that he died trying to stop Kira}}.
* ''Inverted'' with the end of ''[[Code Geass (Anime)|Code Geass]]''. {{spoiler|The few people who were in on it/worked it out are covering up the fact that rather than a [[Complete Monster]], Lelouch was actually creating world peace.}}
** And evidently played straight several episodes prior when the Black Knights betray Lelouch and attempt to cover it up.
* Inverted in ''[[One Piece]]''. After the supposedly-government-allied pirate Crocodile was exposed, the World Government didn't bother to cover it up. They did, however, cover up the fact that ''another'' pirate crew resolved the issue by giving credit to a marine who had conveniently been tailing the heroes, because a rogue pirate beating a government-aligned pirate, traitor or not, would be a source of deep embarrassment.
** Played straight with Gecko Moria later on, possibly because his actions weren't quite as serious a betrayal as Crocodile's were.
* At the end of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', [[The Dragon|the Fuhrer]] was credited as having been a major force against the generals supposedly orchestrating the "alchemic experiment". In fact, {{spoiler|he had been one of the driving forces for its completion and had brought the generals into the scheme.}} However, he was far too popular with the people and the evidence against him was lacking.
* [[Patlabor (Anime)|Patlabor]]
** [[wikipedia:Patlabor: The Movie|Patlabor: The Movie]]: The true source of the malfunctioning labors is whitewashed so the Japanese government will not be disgraced. The corporation that built the faulty labor robots has given the government massive support and money.
* In ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] A'''s, {{spoiler|Admiral Graham's plan to seal the Book of Darkness away with Hayate}} is largely overlooked outside of the upper echelons of the TSAB, and he [[Karma Houdini|merely resigns]], only being officially accused of breaking into Bureau systems and interfering with the investigation. In [[Striker S Sound Stage X]] it is mentioned that many parts of the Jail Scaglietti incident are classified, presumably including {{spoiler|Jail's origins and connection to the Bureau, which had created him}}.
* [[Un -Go]] - Only reason why is Shinjuurou called "Defeated Detective"
* This happened in ''[[Naruto (Manga)|Naruto]]'' with {{spoiler|the planned coup by the Uchiha clan. Itachi [[Zero-Approval Gambit|killed them without exposing their treachery in order to keep their reputation from being tarnished, and to give Sasuke a target for his anger]].}} It... didn't work out so well.
 
 
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* ''[[Watchmen (Comic Bookcomics)|Watchmen]]'', even if it is a ''little'' more complicated...
* ''[[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Teen Titans]]'': Even though she was [[The Mole]], the Titans gave Terra a hero's funeral and kept her betrayal of the team a secret after her death.
* The Invisible Man's decision to sell out humanity to aliens was covered up in ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]''. "covered up" means Hyde raped him to death.
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* Telefon: Grigori Bortsov is sent to kill [[Renegade Russian|Nikolai Dalchimsky]] so the KGB will not have to reveal the fact it failed to shut down a network of sleeper agents. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telefon_(film)\]
* Assassination: The mastermind behind the assassination attempts on the First Lady is a {{spoiler|high-ranking White House official}}. His death is reported as a medical condition to avoid a scandal. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_(1987_film)\]
* The ending of the Jet Li movie ''[[Hero (Filmfilm)|Hero]]'' indicates that the would-be assassin was killed as a traitor, but buried as a hero.
* ''L.A. Confidential'': once in the movie, twice in the book. Ed has to cover up {{spoiler|Dudley's identity as the [[Big Bad]]}}, but his father did it back in the day {{spoiler|by helping Dieterling frame Atherton for the murders his son committed}}.
* The ending of ''[[The Dark Knight]]''. With {{spoiler|Harvey Dent/Two-Face}} dead on the ground, Batman willingly allows the madman's crimes to be blamed on himself so Gotham won't lose an inspirational example.
* At the end of ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies (Film)|Tomorrow Never Dies]]'', M orders the coverup of the death of [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|media baron Elliot Carver]], a bit of karmic irony considering his mass-media manipulation based plan, and has it reported as him committing suicide on his yacht. (What had actually happened is that [[James Bond|Bond]] killed Carver [[Hoist Byby His Own Petard|with his giant drill]] after foiling his attempt at [[War for Fun Andand Profit]].)
** [[Blatant Lies|As such, one has to assume his suicide was reported as throwing himself into a giant blender.]]
* By the end of ''[[Iron Man (Filmfilm)|Iron Man]]'', the government has concocted a story to cover up most of the final battle, including that [[Treacherous Advisor]] Obidiah Stane disappeared in a plane crash whose wreckage was never found. It's doubtful that their [[Treachery Cover-Up]] story ever got a chance to play out, though, since {{spoiler|Tony completely breaks their script at the press conference and outs himself as Iron Man}}.
* In the film ''[[Film/The Art Of War|The Art Of War]]'', [[Wesley Snipes]]'s character is set up for the murder of the Chinese ambassador in the middle of US-China trade talks. After finding out that {{spoiler|a congresswoman involved in the talks}} is the mastermind, he reveals the truth to the [[The Triads and Thethe Tongs|Triads]]. {{spoiler|She}} is murdered by a member of the Triads and is lauded as a hero, who gave {{spoiler|her}} life to ensure the success of US-China trade relations. Of course, this also serves as a big "fuck you" to {{spoiler|her}}, as {{spoiler|she}} was secretly working on sabotaging the talks.
* ''[[The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance]]'' ended on an inversion. The reporters chose to cover up the fact the protagonist, a famous Senator and Vice-Presidential prospect, confessed that he did not kill the eponymous outlaw which made him a legendary figure.
 
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* In ''[[Seven Days in May]]'', the President decided that what had happened must never become public knowledge, in order to preserve the idea that a military coup against the United States government is simply unthinkable.
* [[John Ringo]]: used in the [[wikipedia:John Ringo#Paladin of Shadows Series|Paladin of Shadows Series]]. Information on a rape/sex slave ring is entrusted to the Kildar since public exposure will topple several governments.
* [[James Bond (Literaturenovel)|James Bond]]
** The death of [[wikipedia:Le Chiffre|Le Chiffre]] in [[wikipedia:Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]] is published as a suicide to focus attention on his trade union. Destroying the communist supported labor union and the French communist party is more important than confronting the Soviet Union. The Soviet assassin who kills Le Chiffre says that the publication of his gambling and embezzlement has undermined communist prestige in the NATO nations.
** When Drax's habit of cheating at cards is found out in ''[[Moonraker (Literaturenovel)|Moonraker]]'', James Bond is put against him to teach him a lesson instead of causing a scandal out of it, as it could jeopardize the Moonraker project.
* [[Clive Cussler]]: Many of the villains have massive influence and wealth; the [[Vigilante Man]] man only stops them.
* U.S.S. Seawolf: The president of the United States prevents his son, Linus Clark from being court martialed for negligence. Despite the official story, many in the military know the truth and lose all trust in the current administration. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.S._Seawolf_(novel)\]
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*** After [http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/Operation_Hassan Operation Hassan] causes chaos in the Manticorian and Grayson governments, only the Masadan and Grayson ( {{spoiler|Samuel Mueller}}) conspirators are convicted. Haven is not accused because the only credible witness, [http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/Randal_Donizetti Randal Donizetti], is killed to ensure secrecy.
*** {{spoiler|[http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/Samuel_Mueller Samuel Mueller]}} is not held responsible for his collaboration with [http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/William_Fitzclarence William Allen Hillman Fitzclarence] because of weak evidence. Later he becomes the leader of the political opposition and any accusation against him would only allow {{spoiler|Mueller}} to accuse the Grayson government of a political vendetta.
*** After it is revealed that Havenite agents assassinated [http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/Roger_III_Winton Roger III Winton], Elizabeth Adrienne Samantha Annette Winton is forced to cover up the [http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/Queen%27s_Gambit assassination] since a trial would result in massive [[Witch Hunt|witch-hunts]], an anti-Haven [[Red Scare|“Red Scare”]] or a [[This Means War|declaration of war]]. One of the conspirators has [[Even Evil Has Standards|standards]] and confesses her role. She participated out of [[Well -Intentioned Extremist|well-intentioned idealism]]; she is not a traitor to the state.
* At the end of [[Dan Abnett]]'s ''[[Warhammer 40000 (Tabletop Game)|Warhammer 40000]]'' [[GauntsGaunt's Ghosts]] novel ''Blood Pact'', Gaunt is assured that {{spoiler|Rime}}'s death at Rawne's hands is being passed off as an honorable death in battle. {{spoiler|He's glad not to have the Inquisition breathing down his neck for killing an Inquisitor.}}
* The final fate of {{spoiler|the Camerlengo}} in ''[[Angels and Demons]]''.
* In [[Star Trek Mere Anarchy]], the [[Capital City]] of planet Mestiko is named vosTraal in honour of a native leader, Traal. According to the history books, Traal sacrificed himself to save the planet. What those books leave out is that this was in fact a [[Heel Face Turn]] and he was originally a traitor, allied with the Klingons. Only when he realized that the Klingons cared nothing for his people and would gladly sacrifice his tribe did he turn on them. In order to keep the troubled planet united, this is obscured from history in favour of an entirely heroic portrait.
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== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* ''[[Sea QuestSeaQuest DSV (TV)|Sea Quest DSV]]''
** [[wikipedia:Games (seaQuest DSV)|“Games”]]: Rubin Zellar says he was sentenced to a remote prison since none of his clients wanted to be exposed for collaborating with him. It is later discovered that at least 91% of the evidence against him was destroyed; the remaining was labeled top-secret.
** “Good Soldiers”: the SeaQuest is sent to destroy evidence of illegal medical experiments conducted by the {{spoiler|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Earth_Oceans_Organization\] United Earth Oceans Organization}}. In addition to the fact that the enemies of the {{spoiler|UEO}} would gain a propaganda victory; the people involved in the illegal experiments are seen as heroes and or have become high ranking members of the organization.
* ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]''
** [http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Section_31 Section 31] is able to remain hidden since those in the United Federation of Planets either: do not believe Section 31 exists, lack evidence, are working for them, or realize that exposure will undermine the government. Those that do oppose them, such as the [http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Kirk_cabal Kirk cabal], lack the power and evidence to do anything useful. [http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Section_31\]
** The {{spoiler|[http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Tezwa\] Tezwa}} incident and {{spoiler|[http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Min_Zife\] Min Zife’s}} involvement are covered up to avoid war.
* In ''[[Star Trek: theThe Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek the Next Generation]]'', Worf's father is made a scapegoat for treason actually committed by Duras' father, because the Klingon government does not dare offend Duras' powerful family.
** [[Unexplained Recovery|His honor gets better, though.]]
** In the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV)|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "Dax", such a coverup is the reason Dax symbiont is charged with treason. {{spoiler|It was the actual traitor who got killed}}.
* ''[[Babylon 5]]''
** Jha’dur states she will escape a trial since none of the major intergalactic nation-states wants her to expose their collaboration with the Dilgar or they want her immortality drug. [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/009.html\], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_war\]
** In several episodes, the Drazi government refuses to help since they do not want to be humiliated or lose an advantage. [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/091.html\], [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/100.html\], [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/105.html\]
* ''[[Space: Above and Beyond]]'': The Chig War starts due to political-industrial deceptions. Nevertheless, there is no proof other than rumors.
* In the ''[[Firefly (TV)|Firefly]]'' episode "Ariel," Jayne, about to be [[Thrown Out the Airlock]] by Mal for betraying Simon and River to the Alliance, pleads with Mal -- not for his life (he already tried that and failed), but for Mal to make up a story to conceal his guilt. This convinced Mal to give him another chance.
{{quote| '''Jayne:''' What are you gonna tell the others?<br />
'''Mal:''' About what?<br />
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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* The [[Horus Heresy]] of ''[[Warhammer 40000 (Tabletop Game)|Warhammer 40000]]'' is unknown to the vast majority of the Imperium's population-including the fact that fully half of the [[Super Soldier|Adeptus Astartes]] Legions went rogue and joined Chaos.
** That [[Depending Onon the Writer|depends on the edition and writer]], mind.
** Additionally, one particular Legion is keeping further the secret that half their number turned right ''after'' the Heresy.
*** {{spoiler|And it's not made certain which half...}}
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== [[Video Games]] ==
* Happens in ''[[Suikoden I (Video Game)|Suikoden I]]''; {{spoiler|[[The Mole|Sanchez]]}} is exposed at a vital point for the rebellion, and the game's strategist orders that {{spoiler|his}} treachery be concealed (with the rest of the cast forcing {{spoiler|him}} to play {{spoiler|his role}}) because the knowledge of a high-ranking traitor would undermine confidence. Even after the game's end, {{spoiler|he}} is eventually secretly 'pardoned' (but exiled to a single city and never genuinely forgiven) because the revelation that one of the heroes of the revolution was a traitor would be dangerous for the stability of the new republic. {{spoiler|However, the fact that he's a high ranking character with no Star of Destiny who constantly offers the main character alcohol should have been a give away if you were paying attention from the beginning.}}
* Happens at one part during ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater]]'', and staying true to the series premise, is much more twisted than usual: ('''extra big spoiler''') {{spoiler|to get a spy close to [[Big Bad]] Volgin, the Boss is given the mission to pose as a defector and gaining Volgins trust by bringing him two "stolen" nuclear bombs as a gift. But apparently nobody had thought that Volgin would use them against a KGB facility. To cover up that the US government practically gave the nukes to Volgin, Naked Snake is given the mission to kill her, so that nobody will ever suspect that her defection was fake. Being loyal to her country to the end, she accepts death by the hands of her former pupil and best friend. Snake learns about it only after he had killed her.}}
* In ''[[Tales of Symphonia Dawn of the New World (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia Dawn of the New World]]'', the heroes of the first game keep the truth about {{spoiler|[[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Mithos]], [[Dead Little Sister|Martel]], and [[Path of Inspiration|the Church]]}} secret, because frankly, the world doesn't need that kind of disillusionment.
** In the original game, Lloyd and the party remain quiet about {{spoiler|Governor General Dorr}} collaborating with the Desians by {{spoiler|enabling the people of Palmacosta to be taken to the ranch so that he can get his wife turned back to normal}}, so that the city can get through the crisis while trusting its leadership. Lloyd gets [[What the Hell, Hero?|a significant across-the-board drop]] in the party's [[Relationship Values]] if you decide to say that you're not OK with this. {{spoiler|Palmacosta ultimately gets destroyed at the end of Disc One}}.
* In ''[[Sacrifice]]'', if you side with James, the hero covers up the fact that the prophet Mithras {{spoiler|was the omnicidical demon Marduk in another form.}}.
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== [[Web Comics]] ==
* In ''[[The Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|The Order of the Stick]]'', the circumstances of {{spoiler|Lord Shojo's death at Miko's hands}} are concealed from the people of Azure City in order to prevent morale from being more seriously damaged than it already is. This may well contribute to the [[We ARE Struggling Together!]] situation leter on.
* [[Dominic Deegan|Donovan Deegan]] hid from his wife the fact that their friend Karnak had tried to [[Murder the Hypotenuse]] (namely, him) just before his [[Heroic Sacrifice]].
* Inverted very early on in ''[[Girl Genius (Webcomic)|Girl Genius]]''. Silas Merlot, in a fit of temper, reveals that Dr. Beetle has been hiding a Hive Engine (a piece of poorly-understood technology containing highly dangerous organisms which can turn their victims into [[The Renfield]]) for his own research, which Baron Wulfenbach has expressly forbidden, because of the danger. Fearing the Baron's harsh punishments, Beetle panics and tries to bomb the Baron, but the gambit backfires and obliterates Beetle instead. Merlot gets about halfway through the first sentence of trying to conspire with the Baron to hide Beetle's death when the Baron declares his undying hatred for traitors, and he holds Merlot and his theatrics directly responsible for what just happened. He then declares that Merlot's punishment is that ''he'' is now in charge of Beetleburg...[[Cruel Mercy|after the much-beloved Dr. Beetle is given a hero's funeral and the full details of his death, Merlot's involvement included, have been released to the public.]]
 
 
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