"As you wish," Palcikas said distractedly. For decades the western Soviet republic had been called Byelorussia, loosely translated as "White Russia," which, although most scholars attributed the name to mean that this part of the Slavic territory was never conquered by the dark-skinned Mongols, some said gave the people of this region a decidedly negative connotation, as in weak or enslaved people. When it became an independent nation, the republic proclaimed itself as the Republic of Belarus, which translated more closely to "Great Russia," or "Mother Russia," the native land of the original Rus conquerors of early Europe. The distinction was meaningless to Palcikas except for the fact that he knew how it would aggravate the hawkish right-wing advocates in the Byelorussian military.

"The presence of all these vehicles and soldiers violates the security and cooperation agreement between Lithuania and the Commonwealth of Independent States," Palcikas continued, and then recited the treaty provisions.

Voshchanka remained impassive, with the same amused smile on his lips, but the Colonel with him hissed: "Who in hell do you think you're talking to, Palcikas? General Voshchanka does not answer to you or to any Lithuanian!"

Voshchanka held up a hand. "What the Colonel is saying in a rather inelegant way, General Palcikas, is that I take my orders from the commander in chief of military forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Because of the nature of this mission-an attack against a Commonwealth helicopter by an unknown, hostile aircraft-I personally took charge of this mission when the order was delivered from Minsk, and I did not inquire into the treaty or legal ramifications of those orders."

"General Voshchanka, I did not ask you for an excuse," Palcikas interrupted. "You may submit your explanation in writing to the Lithuanian government directly, through me, or through the Commonwealth. I am only concerned with these Belarus troops violating the treaty. I hereby

order you again to comply with the joint cooperation treaty and return to Belarus or to your bases. Will you comply with my orders or ignore them?"

Voshchanka pointed to the black smear of metal and burnt debris. "Three men died in that crash, General Palcikas. Three highly trained, professional aviators. Are you not concerned about the men who died here?"

"As concerned as you appear to be about complying with any treaties with Lithuania,"

Palcikas said.

"You insolent bastard!" Colonel Gurlo retorted. "The General has told you that he has orders to investigate this incident, and he will accomplish that mission with or without your cooperation or any trash about treaties. Now step out of the way and we will complete our assigned duty."

Now Palcikas chuckled. "Does this pitiful excuse for a colonel speak for you, General Voshchanka?"

The Byelorussian colonel said something in unintelligible Russian, and he drew his sidearm.

"You Lithuanian bastard. I will put a bullet in your head for that."

Just then three helicopters popped from over a nearby treeline, encircled the group of Byelorussian vehicles, and hovered about two hundred meters away from the group.