The Western world breathed a sigh of relief when the Soviet Union chose this path.
They had never wanted a war in the first place. More importantly, this move convinced them of something crucial: the Soviet Union could no longer solve its problems through force.
In their eyes, this was proof that Gorbachev's earlier policies had hollowed the empire out from the inside.
NATO quietly sent signals to the presidents of the three Baltic states diplomatic support. And if war truly broke out, NATO would take the lead, march at the front, and charge alongside them.
Everyone knew this was an unrealistic commitment.
Everyone knew no one could say what it would actually be worth when the moment came.
Everyone except the Estonian president.
Rushing back from Finland, intoxicated by NATO's encouragement and his own sudden sense of importance, he believed it completely.
Under NATO's quiet instigation, he began shouting increasingly arrogant slogans:
"I would rather have independence than peace!"
"Russians, get out of Estonia!"
The demonstrations achieved exactly what they were meant to achieve.
And far away in Moscow, the supreme leader stood with his hands clasped behind his back and smiled darkly.
Everything was unfolding exactly as he had expected.
Andrei boarded the plane bound for Estonia.
Because relations between the Soviet Union and its so-called allies were extremely delicate, the presidential Il-62 did not travel alone. When it took off from Moscow, two Su-27 fighters rose with it, escorting the "Flying Palace" all the way to the edge of Estonian airspace before turning back.
Despite the unrest in the Baltic states, Andrei insisted on stepping directly onto territory that openly opposed him and the vast red empire behind him. Although Moscow had begun tightening the screws again, the militaries of the three Baltic countries still did not dare place their fingers on the surface-to-air missile buttons.
For now, courage stopped at slogans.
The Il-62 came to a halt on the tarmac of Lennart Meri Tallinn International Airport.
As Andrei descended the stairs, he immediately noticed something missing.
There was no red carpet.
He smiled faintly and didn't comment. He didn't need to. Everything was being recorded anyway. Yor, traveling with him, took in the scene with quiet interest.
A dense crowd of reporters waited nearby , almost all of them Western media.
When Andrei stepped onto the last stair, the Estonian president approached him with a practiced smile and extended his hand.
"Welcome to Estonia, General Secretary Andrei."
Andrei took the hand without hesitation.
"Tallinn is a beautiful city. My godfather was a Red Army soldier in 1940. He entered this capital in a tank. I never expected that one day I would have the honor of setting foot on territory my fathers once fought for."
The smile on the Estonian president's face froze.
The message was unmistakable.
The entire exchange was broadcast live across the world.
"This is going to cause trouble," murmured a BBC reporter under her breath. She had recently made a name for herself covering Moscow and this assignment was supposed to be a promotion.
For a moment, the Estonian president didn't know how to respond.
"Of course, I come today in peace," Andrei broke the silence himself. "To discuss the independence of the three Baltic countries. I assume Anatoly Valerianovich and Vytautas Landsbergis are already waiting in the conference room. Let's not keep them waiting."
Arnold Rütel snapped back to reality and accompanied Andrei toward City Hall.
Alone, he was no match for Andrei. But his allies were already sharpening their knives at the conference table.
As the motorcade moved through the city, Andrei looked out the window.
The streets were packed with demonstrators.
Placards rose and fell like waves.
"Tyrants get out!"
"We do not welcome dictators!"
"We want democracy!"
"We want freedom!"
Not a single friendly slogan. If not for the heavy police cordon, the crowd might have rushed the convoy.
Arnold forced an awkward smile.
"You see. Estonia is a democratic country. We cannot forbid lawful demonstrations. Otherwise, how would we be different from a dictatorship?"
Regarding Arnold's ridicule in disguise, Andrei just smiled irrefutably.
You old fox,You still don't understand who arranged all this. Let's see how to torture you after this..
When Andrei opened the door, the floodlights blinded him for a moment. Questions flew like knives.
"Are you here to stop Baltic independence?"
"Is Gorbachev's Union Treaty still valid?"
"Will the Soviet Union use force?"
"Will this be another Prague Spring?"
"Are you really the cold-blooded tyrant they describe?"
Andrei was about to ignore them until he noticed a young female reporter.
He raised a hand.
"Miss, I just wanted to say your glasses look very good on you."
Inside the conference room, the other leaders were already waiting.
Latvia's acting president Anatoly wore an anxious expression. Vytautas Landsbergis sat quietly in the corner, saying nothing.
Andrei took his seat and spoke first.
"Apologies for being late. Reporters delayed me. Foreigners, with full bellies and empty heads love to stick their noses always eager to lecture others internal affairs."
Vytautas' mouth twitched, but he remained composed.
"Let's begin," he said. "Our position remains unchanged. This meeting concerns the new Union Treaty. We can accept a loose confederation but not Soviet control. The Supreme Soviet Constitution grants us the right to secede. These are our terms."
"Exactly," Arnold chimed in. "The new treaty must take effect immediately. Alliance states develop freely, free from Moscow. Otherwise, we will call upon the peoples of the Baltics to rise up against Soviet oppression!"
Andrei suddenly laughed. The three leaders stared at him.
"I'm sorry," he said, wiping his eyes. "I'm not laughing at you personally, "Mr. President". I'm laughing because all three of you here are… how to put it… a form of garbage."
Faces hardened instantly.
"You seem to forget," Andrei continued, "the national referendum held in mid-March. Over 70% of Soviet citizens and more than nine republics voted against a loose confederation. They support a unified Soviet Union. So yes, I laugh. You are poor souls who cannot read the tide.
Oh, one more thing. I said I came from Moscow with love and peace. I never specified whether 'Love and Peace' is the name of a tactical nuclear warhead."
He checked his watch casually.
"About time. If you turn on the television, you should see the news that makes things worse."
"What news?" Anatoly asked angerly. " Do you think its a joke? The destiny of 7 million people is with us!"
Before Andrei answered, an Estonian aide rushed over and whispered into Arnold's ear.
The color drained from his face.
"Quick, turn on the TV." Arnold said angrily.
Grg.....rgr....grg.....
Suddenly everyone felt a earthquake beneath them. Before anyone could think, Andrei laughed out loud. With a evil grin he spoke.
"Hahaha hahaha... Now the real show is about to begin..."