Aurora Sightings?

[Anomalocaris]

It was beyond merely 'making it look like' with the GSFG and 16th Air Army. We found out later that the Transporter-Erector-Launchers were dispersed to launch sites. The subs had been sent to hide under the ice, Northern Fleet surface units were moved out of port and anchored 'under the shadows of cliffs'. The Cheget holders were dispersed- Andropov was at Kuntsevo, Ogarpov was in the Central Command Bunker and Ustinov was in (or under) the Ministry of Defence.

What it looked like at the time was what incentivized NATO to de-escalate.   What was discovered later confirmed de-escalation was likely responsible for Reagan remaining alive long enough for the right wing to gloss over his foolishly and unknowingly bringing the world to the edge of nuclear Armageddon and instead claim credit for him for defeating communism.