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As the SDF…1 began to take shape； so did Macross City。 The ongoing project to decipher and apply the principles of Robotechnology became the one to try for； Macross Island became a haven for scientists from every discipline； pacifists and idealists disheartened by continued war fare； Senator Russo's military teams； and the support network that grew up to house； feed； and entertain these various groups。
Tommy Luan built Macross City； no one would have taken issue with that； so when it came time to call Macross City what it was and elect officials； Tommy Luan won hands down。 And four years later； when the city had grown to a population of over 100；000； Tommy Luan would still be on top。
And now； months after the fold； here was Tommy Luan still in charge。 The fact that the city and； most of its inhabitants had been rescued was miraculous； what had been done to the city since was equally so。 For a time it had been like living in a giant's cellar； enormous conduits and pipes overhead； bulkheads for horizons； the eerie sounds of the ship permeating the city。 There was room enough for the 50；000 survivors； but a kind of collective claustrophobia prevailed。
Then there was the disaster that befell them during the first modular transformation and the continued attacks on the SDF…1 by their unseen enemy。 But Macross City had weathered it all； and the new city was a marvel to behold。 Constructed on three levels that ascended to the massive starport dome； the city had everything it had had on Earth…and then some。 There were streets （even hills）； shopping malls； electric cars and trucks； a monorail； tube and lift systems； several movie theaters； arcades； an amphitheater； even a radio station。 The engineers who had e up with Eve…Enhanced Video Emulation…were experimenting with the blue skies； sunrises； and sunsets。 And soon the Macross Broadcasting System would be inaugurated。
But there was an important something missing： There was no news。
Except； of course； what they were permitted to broadcast to the population concerning the war。 Births and deaths； no crime to speak of； no traffic accidents； no corruption。 There was no real life sense to the place； some fear and paranoia； but no real fun or excitement。
Which is precisely why Mayor Tommy Luan had jumped at the idea of running a Miss Macross pageant when Jan Morris's people had approached him。
Jan Morris's people…her agent； her manager； her publicity agent； the whole lot of them along with the noted Hollywood star…had bee overnight residents of Macross City since the spacefold。 She had been part of a variety show organized in the States and newly arrived on Macross Island to take part in the Launching Day celebration。 Now Macross City had the whole show on a permanent basis； in addition to Jan Morris； there was an entire show band； two rock groups； two stand…up ics； and three singers。… The Morris group presented the idea of the beauty pageant with real humanitarian zeal： Macross City needed a little excitement； and what better way to inaugurate the new television station than with a knock…'em…dead show with plenty of beautiful women and production numbers。 Macross Island had been gearing up for just such an event； but what Morris's people were proposing was not a beauty pageant in the traditional sense of the term…Jan's people knew better than to put their star up against seventeen…year…olds in a swimsuit petition…but more of a Miss Popularity contest based on each individual's contributions to the spirit and growth of the transplanted city。 The way they had it figured； Jan would be crowned with the title at the end of the show and everyone would walk away happy。
The mayor had listened patiently to their plan； all the while formulating some thoughts of his own。 It was a terrific idea…Macross City could use the boost； any excuse to gather behind an issue that wasn't war…related…but he saw through their motives： It was true that Jan； like so many others； had done her share to keep up the morale in the city； but as an actress （and only a fair one at that） in a world without movies； what else could she do but play on her past？ But now with the SDF…1 through the launch window and the actual final leg of the ship's homeward journey a real possibility； it was time to think about the future of Jan Morris as a marketable property。 After all； her audiences on Earth had surely regretted her loss； and just as surely they had moved on by now。 So unless Jan Morris could return to Earth singled out by a title like Miss Macross from the other 50；000 returnees； her future as a star would be bleak。 She would have missed her personal launch window。
With the right publicity； Jan Morris would certainly be a shoe…in for the title。 But Mayor Tommy Luan didn't want to see that happen。 Jan Morris was deserving enough； but her image was all wrong； she represented the past； and moreover； she was not really a voluntary resident of the city。 No； what Macross City needed was someone whom they could call their own； not just a figurehead but some young woman who would embody the spirit of adventure and survival； of victory and hope。
The Morris group continued to lay out their plans； but unknown to them； the mayor had already chosen the winner。 She would be perfect！ he told himself。 Not only was she of mixed background and ancestry； lovely to look at； personable； and talented； but she was already a minor celebrity in her own right。 For two weeks she and her young lieutenant friend had faced an ordeal in the bowels of the ship； it was her family that had reopened the first restaurant in the resurrected city； the White Dragon； and the flyboys all adored her。 Yes； she would be perfect； the mayor decided：
Lynn…Minmei； Miss Macross！
Rick was having lunch with Minmei at Variations； a popular eatery on the upper tier of Macross City； when she told him about her entry in the Miss Macross pageant。 They had been seeing each other frequently during the past two months。 The enemy had pulled back for some reason； and the ship was on a course that would return them to Earth in six months or so。 In general； things had been going well； but this was the first definite news Rick heard of the resuscitated contest； and he was speechless； it was hard enough sharing her with half the Robotech Defense Force； and now she was on the brink of being the munal property of the entire SDF…1！
〃Rick； please don't get like that；〃 she responded to his silence。 〃The mayor went ahead and entered me without even asking。 And besides； you know how much this means to me。〃
〃What are you； his secret weapon or something？ I mean； what about us； Minmei？ I mean。。。oh； forget it； I don't know what I mean。〃
She reached across the table for his hand。 〃Listen； Rick； will you be there for me…you and Roy and the guys？ I'm going to need all the help I can get。〃
He looked into her blue eyes and began to feel the anger leaving him。 His smile brought one to her face。
〃Of course we'll be there。 We're on standby patrol that night； but Roy will able to pull some strings。 Anyway； you're going to win that contest hands down。〃
〃You really think I have a chance？〃
〃You're a sure thing；〃 he told her。 〃You are our secret weapon； don