Phase 9: Prelude to Invasion - Preparations

"It's been six weeks since his promotion. How is he and his team shaping up?"

"Not too bad. They've been running sims, sparring, and fraternising with each other pretty well. I believe he took my advice to heart."

"I certainly hope you're right, for all our sakes."

Providence, already missing an arm, raised the other one and fired the shield guns.
Justice, backpack trailing smoke, parried the shots with its shield, swung and threw a boomerang.
Providence smashed it aside with its beam sabre, launching its funnels as it did so.
Freedom appeared from behind Providence and took dead aim with all its cannons.
A funnel fired and destroyed a plasma cannon and a railgun. Freedom recoiled from the impact and vanished again.
Two shots from Justice smashed an equivalent number of funnels.
A funnel came crashing into Justice from the rear. Carried along by the force of impact, Justice was knocked to the ground.
Freedom appeared and shielded the prone Justice from further beam fire from Providence. Two more shots pierced a wing, and hit Freedom's right shoulderpad, blowing both parts off. Freedom returned fire with its surviving plasma cannon, destroying Providence's left leg.
Justice regained its feet and activated RAS, knocked Freedom to the ground as 20+ beams were directed at it, and used its body to deflect all the beams.
Freedom recovered, pulled out a beam sabre, and went slashing at Providence left, right, down, and up.
Providence parried left, right, dodged the downwards stroke, and on the upwards swing, kicked out with its right leg, connecting and knocking the sabre out of Freedom's hand. Two more funnel shots took out the remaining railgun and Freedom's left leg. Freedom fell back as Justice came rushing in from behind Providence, dealing a ferocious downwards strike with a beamstaff.
Providence turned just in time to have its shield cleaved in half. A funnel shot blew off Justice's right hand at the wrist, allowing Providence to grab hold of its beamstaff. Freedom tackled Providence from the side, knocking it away from Justice.
Providence promptly decapitated Freedom and kicked it away, and effectively crucified Freedom in a savage display of funnel beam crossfire. Freedom disintegrated and broke up, trailing smoke.
Justice made one final desperate attack, pushing RAS to the maximum and using its beam boomerang as a handheld weapon, rushed forward and slashed towards Providence, slicing off its other arm. As the arm separated away, still holding the lit beamstaff, Providence drew back and bicycle-kicked the beamstaff out of its own hand and into Justice, impaling it.
A searing white light spilt the sky...

...

...

Simulation Ended

Akira, Ryushin, and Lily emerged from the simulation training modules, built in the likeness of their Gundam's cockpits.
All of them were drenched in sweat and their helmets were fogged over.
Lily removed her helmet and gasped, between pants: "This... This... is the... fourth time... you've beaten... both of us... in the...sims...!"
Ryushin ripped off his helmet and conceded defeat: "I... admit it... You... won... fair... and... square... AGAIN, Flight Leader."
Akira grimaced, and said: "I... must be... a bad leader then... One... who can't... even... get his team... to rise above him..."

A short silence followed...

"Hey, let's... just call it... leading by example." Lily said.
"I'm trying to. Look, I didn't want this post, okay?"
"Yeah, we know. Hey, we think you're doing a great job," said Ryushin, looking at Lily for confirmation, which she signalled by nodding her head. "So there's no need to worry about us."
Akira sighed. "Thanks for your confidence, but you remember what I told you? That we're Mars's best hope?"
"What do you mean? We're not good enough?" asked Lily.
"I'm trying to say we could all improve on our skills. I'm afraid... Afraid that we might not be strong enough to beat them..."

Another uncomfortable silence ensued.

"Look, whatever comes, we'll deal with it as it does. Right now, there's no use worrying about it." Ryushin stated.
"Whatever comes... What if that 'whatever' is someone who is stronger then you?"
"Then... We'll just have to work together as a team then!" exclaimed Lily.
"Exactly... But if you two fight the way you did just now, then I fear we'll definitely be crushed. I see teamwork, but no coordination about it. You two allowed me to divide you, to force you on the defensive, to exploit weaknesses. If the enemy is able to do that, he's won."

"So... Another round of training, then?" Ryushin asked.

"Yes. I hope both of you will be able to work in tandem this time. Defeat me!" cried Akira. "But first, a short water break. All of us must have lost a bucketful already."

---To be Continued---