>>23505107
Let's put it this way: I'm as angry as Shinn is when I see that scene.
For further context, we have all the instances where Kira and Athrun could've butchered the druggies, but didn't. Or the times that Phase Shift gets beaten by physical weapons.

>>23378809
>>I always figured they didn't want to damage the mass driver port with an ensuing explosion.
They knew they were evacuating so the mass driver could be destroyed before the Earth Alliance moved in. Doing some inconsequential damage during a battle to protect the ship against "powerful foes" makes no sense.

>What am I looking at here again?
Did you even watch the show or not? After there's a huge melee between Freedom, Justice and the druggies, the three imbeciles suddenly stop when they get their neurotic fits. Kira and Athrun just stand there, watching them stand uselessly in the air, only to evacuate shortly after instead of shooting them on the spot.
Have another example, free of charge. Even with the beam saber drawn before getting close to bounce off the blast, Athrun doesn't bother to attack the stupid druggy.