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king women for pany ought to report immediately for a long talk with the flight surgeon。
〃Looks kind of crowded； doesn't it？〃 Kim was saying； just as they realized someone was signaling them。 He had a big roundtop all to himself； the only unoccupied table in the place。 The bridge bunnies thought it was a sign from providence； and Lisa made no objection to joining him。
〃Talk about a case of perfect timing；〃 Rick said as Max ran around trying to hold all the women's chairs at once。 〃Minmei's long…lost cousin Kyle was in Yokohama。 And she wouldn't e back without him。〃
Lisa's face clouded with disapproval。 She knew Rick's orders； and bringing an outsider was tantamount to disobedience。 Still； if that was the only way Miss Macross would rejoin the ship； Rick had probably done the right thing； she admitted； even though she couldn't see why the staff people…especially the civilian affairs and morale officers…were so determined that the girl be catered to。
Besides； she knew from her visit to the Alaskan base that there would be no leak of information about the SDF…1's return or Minmei's visit； not even from Minmei's parents。 The damned Council gestapo would apply pressure to make sure of that。
〃So it's a big reunion；〃 Rick was grousing。 〃Everybody in the neighborhood came in to see him。〃
〃Gee！ What a hunk！〃 Sammie gushed。
Her two cohorts were quick to agree； sounding as if they were about to swoon。 Lisa looked over to where Kyle stood with Minmei and his mother； greeting people and exchanging pleasantries with that gentle reserve of his。
Lisa gasped。 He…he reminds me so of Karl！
Gentle； peace…loving Karl； her one and only love； gone forever。
The Terrible Trio were into their act。 〃Kim； you shouldn't stare； not so hard！〃 Sammie giggled。
Kim sniggered back； 〃Oh； sure！ And I suppose you saw him first？〃 Sammie dissolved in laughter。
Max seated himself； tossing a forelock of long blue hair out of his eyes； and polished his glasses on his napkin。 Vanessa asked Rick； 〃What did you say her cousin's name was again？〃
〃I think I said Kyle；〃 Rick grunted。
The Terrible Trio had practiced enough to say it as one； so that everybody in the place could hear： 〃OH！ WELL； HE'S SURE GOOD…LOOKING； ISN'T HE？〃
Maybe 〃bridge bunnies〃 isn't such a bad name for them； after all； Max mused； putting his glasses back on and taking another look at this Lynn…Kyle。
〃Gee； Minmei looks so happy；〃 Kim sighed。
Rick had something sour to say on the subject； but at that moment Mayor Tommy Luan sauntered up to the table； his usual effervescent self。
〃Well； well； well； Rick； m' boy！ So these are some of your friends； eh？ Why don't you introduce me to the ladies； hmm？〃
Rick wondered if there was ever a time when Tommy Luan wasn't campaigning。 But before he could ply； Minmei's cousin was there； with Minmei trailing behind like a faithful pet。
〃Hello； Mr。 Mayor； glad to have you back on Earth。 I'd like to introduce myself： My name is Lynn…Kyle。 Wele to my family's restaurant。〃
Minmei； clinging to his arm； added； 〃Hi！〃
Rick heard a little sound escape Lisa and saw that something about Kyle made her very distraught。 The Terrible Trio fell all over one another greeting Kyle； and Max mumbled some adequate response。
The mayor said heartily； 〃Well； Kyle； even if you don't like the army； you'll have to admit there are some lovely ladies in the military！〃
Lisa gasped。 He even had the same convictions as Karl！
〃Oh； uh； did I say something perhaps I shouldn't have？〃 Tommy Luan asked with elaborate innocence。 〃Well； young people should get to know one another。〃 He sauntered off。 〃'Scuse me。〃
Max had the distinct impression that the mayor was wearing a satisfied smirk…as though he'd succeeded at something。 But what？
〃Was the mayor implying you have something against the service？〃 Sammie piped up。
Kyle shook his head； the long； straight midnight hair shimmering。 〃It's not just the military。 I don't like fighting of any kind。〃
Sammie rested her chin on her hands and batted her eyelashes at him。 〃Oh； really？〃 For a guy this dreamy； she'd have sat happily listening to him do Zentraedi halftime cheers。 Minmei gave Sammie a suspicious scowl。
〃Fighting produces nothing！〃 Kyle declared。 〃It only results in devastation and destruction！〃
Max was studying Kyle with an unusual directness。 〃Are you saying that everyone in the service enjoys destroying things？〃
Rick couldn't help jumping in； even if it offended Minmei。 Maybe even because it would。 〃Well； I didn't join the Robotech Defense Forces because I like devastation and destruction。〃
Divine as Lynn…Kyle might be； even the Terrible Trio had to nod and murmur their agreement with that。 Minmei intervened； afraid that things were about to get out of control。
〃Hey； relax； everybody！ We're celebrating Kyle's return； after all。 I've got it： They're broadcasting that show I taped yesterday。 What about turning on the television？〃
That met with general acclaim； if Minmei was the darling and idol of the SDF…1； she was an empress among her friends and neighbors。 In another moment the sixfoot screen showed her in the center of the spotlights； microphone in hand…not that the sound crew couldn't have used directionals； but she preferred it as a prop。 She wore a stunning new Kirstin Hammersjald creation。
The crowd in the White Dragon was cheering and stomping and whistling； as was the crowd in the taping studio。 Rick strained to catch a little of the song：
I spend the days alone；
Chasing a dream…
All at once the entertainment special disappeared in an avalanche of zigzag static； to be replaced by Colton Van Fortespiel。
Everyone in the SDF…1 knew Van Fortespiel； the SDF Broadcasting System's supervising announcer and the only TV anchorman on record to wear dark wraparound sunglasses on camera。 His appearance sent a signal of fear through the room； unscheduled announcements of this sort usually spelled trouble for the dimensional fortress。
For this reason； and the sunglasses； Van Fortespiel was sometimes called the Boogieman。 The Boogieman was wearing earphones today； too； and speaking into a jumble of mikes that took his voice over the various sound…only circuits； intership lines； and alternative TV channels。
〃We interrupt our regular programming for this very important news bulletin。〃
The White Dragon resounded with angry resentment。 The crowd had felt at home； safe； and had been eagerly watching Minmei； the people wanted no part of any more disaster reports。 They were yelling for Minmei's show to be resumed。
〃At a news conference moments ago；〃 the Boogieman continued； 〃Captain Henry Gloval disclosed to the press that permission for any survivors to leave Macross has been denied。〃
There was a moment of stunned silence as Van Fortespiel shifted his sheets of copy； until a grandmotherly woman howled； 〃What does he mean；〃 ‘denied'？ Does that mean we're stuck here？ For how long？〃
Others were raising objections； too； but most were shushing them to hear what else the Boogieman had to say。
〃Rumors circulating throughout the ship's upper echelons today indicate that this prohibition may only be temporary。〃
A man in a brown sport c