Phase 2: Justice Reclaimed

"The operation is going well."

"It certainly is."

"How's our ace doing so far?"

"Take a look for yourself."

A display in the cockpit blinked to life. An infrared scanner had locked on to the position of the fleeing Justice Gundam. Data poured in.

Akira Nara, pilot of the Mars Defence Forces's new Providence Gundam, reacted instantly, sending the MS streaking towards an interception.

It wasn't long before he had visual contact. The stolen Gundam was attempting an orbital escape, thrusters blazing a brilliant blue-white.

Orders soon came in from Central Command: "Make sure it doesn't escape! However, attempt to recapture it as intact as possible." Akira snorted before acknowledging.

He allowed himself a moment of calm before he engaged the DRAGOON System, focussing and concentrating his will. The funnels shot off into the pinkish Martian sky, manuevering and jetting in their prescribed vectors.

Simultanously, he had the Providence Gundam accelerate towards the stolen MS and fired off a warning shot with its handheld cannon. The funnels formed an enclosing beam net.

Opening a commlink, he called upon the pilot to surrender.

Play song GAIA x CHAOS x ABYSS. They might not be around...yet, but this suits the action.
The pilot's response was to engage Reflective Armour Shielding (RAS) and brushed past the beam web, sending deflected beams scattering.

Akira Nara stared for a moment before recalling the funnels and activating the large beam sabre, cursing himself for forgetting that vital detail.

The stolen Gundam dragged out both its beam boomerangs, each with an effective radius capable of slicing through a capital ship.

One after the other, the two shimmering thrown weapons whirled towards Providence.

He dodged the first one and blocked the other, firing the shield cannons and destroying it.

As the the main body made an escape bid, the backpack came hurtling at Providence, all six beam cannons blazing.

Using the giant beam sabre, he deflected the beams, but was rammed by the backpack, throwing Providence off-balance and causing a temporary loss of control. As he struggled to right it, the backpack reformed up with Justice and the MS sped upwards.

Providence finally responded and leveled out. Irritated, Akira hurled the MS back up after Justice.
Once again, the DRAGOON System activated and the funnels exploded outwards.

This time, Akira turned the enemy pilot's tactic against him: He sent the funnels crashing into Justice, knocking it off course and disorienting the pilot. This bought enough time for Providence to catch up.

Seizing the opportunity, Akira made two direct hits on each backpack engine, disabling Justice's speed advantage.

The enemy pilot drew out a beam staff, and sent Justice shooting towards Providence. Akira caught the leading edge on the shield, shook it off and made a direct slash across the cockpit, exposing the pilot.

Repositioning Providence, Akira opened its cockpit doorflaps and aimed his semiautomatic at the enemy pilot through the gaping hole. Three shots rung out.

Resealing the cockpit, Akira remanuevered Providence to the rear of the suddenly limp Justice and bear-hugged the pilotless Gundam.
Guiding it back to the base, Providence deposited Justice onto a waiting flatbed, to be sent for repairs.

Akira Nara wished to continue hunting for Freedom, but the base commander wouldn't have any of it. Providence was reparked inside its hangar for maintance and cleaning. Akira Nara was ordered to change out of his uniform and wash out his blood-caked hair.

"Hmmm. Not bad, not bad at all."

"Excellent piloting skills and adaptive thinking."

"Maybe you made the right choice."

"I'm sure of it."

"Well then, we'll see about it tomorrow."

"Freedom awaits."