The Situation in Moscow (Cold War Hot 1958 Alt-History)

With East and West on the doorstep of atomic war, Malenkov recognized that the situation had simply become unacceptable, and that the Soviets had over-played their hand.  Possibly he, maybe more than anyone else in the Soviet leadership, understood the threat of such a war, and that any Soviet victory, if possible, would not be so good as victory in the last war.  And that victory had come at unimaginable cost.

With each step of escalation regarding West Berlin, Malenkov believed that the Americans would reach their limit, and that an underlying lack of NATO unity would force the US to yield.  But surprisingly, that did not happen.  It made no sense.  

Malenkov realized that somehow, he simply did not understand the Americans.  And he realized that his peers likely understood them less so.  The bluffing game could not be won, and war was now, at best, only days away.  So he called a meeting of the presidium and presented his thoughts regarding this desperate situation. 

He knew his view would be a challenged, but these men had each fought and suffered for their country, and he was sure that despite individual ambitions, each loved his country just as he did, and loved it enough to save it. Surely they would see reason.  

But, some men are not reasonable, and discussion of East Germany's defense turned to the discussion of the offense.  After all, Soviet forces were better positioned than ever for war, and better that American atomic weapons fell on West Germany, rather than East.

With those final days melting away in the shadow of the western ultimatum, the Soviet leadership became silent.  By the West, they were not seen; they were not heard.  Malenkov sat in his cell, alone, alternately consumed by anguish and anger, waiting for the end.