Phoenix Hunt

The Phoenix Hunt (フェニックス狩り, Fenikkusu Gari) was the Earth Federation-sanctioned operation to capture the runaway RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex in UC 0097. Depicted in Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, the operation became a convergence point for the Federation, Luio & Co., the Sleeves, and survivors of the Laplace Incident.

Background

Post-Laplace Anxiety

In the wake of the Laplace Incident, the Federation feared that the Phenex’s uncontrolled psycho-frame could destabilise the fragile political balance created by the Universal Century Charter revelation. Intelligence reports of the Phenex appearing across Side 4 and Industrial 7 triggered emergency authorisation for a capture operation.

Luio & Co. Partnership

Michele Luio leveraged her company’s logistics network to fund and equip the task force, providing the prototype RX-9 Narrative Gundam and psycho-frame capture cages. Her involvement ensured corporate access to psycho-frame data while shielding the Federation from budgetary scrutiny.

Operation overview

Assembly of task force

Commander Iago Haakana marshalled a mixed fleet including the assault carrier SCVA-76 Thordine, escort cruisers, and civilian freighters disguised as Luio transports. Veteran pilots Jona Basta and Riddhe Marcenas were tapped for their prior exposure to psycho-frame combat.

Engagements

Initial contact occurred in the shoal space around Industrial 7, where the Phenex appeared without warning and the Sleeves, led by Zoltan Akkanen, attempted to seize the machine for themselves. Fighting spilled into the Miranda colony block, and the Phenex’s psycho-frame resonance triggered phenomena that endangered civilians and baffled Federation analysts. The pursuit culminated in Earth orbit near the debris field of the former Gryps 2, with all factions struggling to contain the phenomenon.

Outcome

The operation failed to capture the Phenex; instead, the mobile suit transcended physical constraints after responding to the emotional bonds between Jona, Rita Bernal, and Michele Luio. Nevertheless, the task force exposed the unstoppable nature of psycho-frame evolution and forced the Federation to reconsider its reliance on the technology.

Aftermath

The Federation Security Council imposed stricter controls on psycho-frame research, though Luio & Co. retained significant influence thanks to its logistical monopoly. Zoltan Akkanen’s rogue actions further fragmented the Sleeves, leaving their remnants less cohesive and more dangerous. Among spacenoids, the Phenex became an almost mythic symbol, embodying hope that transcended political boundaries and fuelling rumours that psycho-frame consciousness could surpass human limitations.

Significance

The Phoenix Hunt illustrated the Universal Century’s recurring theme: attempts to weaponise Newtype phenomena inevitably trigger unintended consequences. It also highlighted corporate power’s entanglement with military decision-making in the post-Laplace era.

Behind the scenes

The operation serves as the narrative backbone of the 2018 film Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, tying together threads from the Unicorn OVA and setting the stage for later Hathaway’s Flash developments.

Appearances

The Phoenix Hunt is chronicled in Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, which frames the operation as the film’s central conflict.