魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS（ストライカーズ）Ep. 21
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Episode 21

SPOILER Summary:

Chrono and Lindy receive a report from Yuuno (aided by Arf) that the Saint’s Cradle was considering a Lost Logia even in the Belkan times and may be from Al Hazard, the place Fate’s creator-mother had long sought. It will take some time for the ship to reach the proper orbit in order to maximize the magic from the two moons in order to launch devastating attacks on the planet’s surface. At that time, the ship may be too much for even the TSA fleets to handle.

Hayate leads the aerial forces attacking the Saint’s Cradle from without while on the ground, Hayate, Sister Schach, and Verossa go through Scaglietti’s lair, seeking to take him and his lab down. They are eventually attacked by some Numbers where Sein grabs Sister Schach, only to find herself countered and apparently captured. Fate squares off against Tre and Sette. Nanoha and Vita manage to breach the hull of the Saint’s Cradle where the two fight a number of Gadgets. They receive intel from the Long Arch staff showing that the throne room and engine room, one or both of which will need to be destroyed to stop the Saint’s Cradle, are in opposite directions. Though Nanoha is concerned for Vita’s health, she agrees to split up, heading for the throne room and Vivio. Vita is battling her way back to the engine room but is ambushed by a Gadget-droid who’d been cloaked. Vita is stabbed in the back through her chest but seeing it is one of the Gadget-droids that had nearly caused Nanoha’s death, Vita is enraged and destroys it, preparing to take out its companions as well.

Alto eludes some aerial Gadget-types and drops off the rookies, Fried taking full dragon form to carry Elio and Caro. Caro spies Lutecia and Garyuu, thus directs Fried that way. With their initial plan gone, Subaru and Tia try go to a backup plan. This is stopped by an attack from Number Otto who splits the two apart. Tia is then attacked by Deed while Subaru is attacked by Nove, Subaru being sent into a wall. Wendi then attacks Subaru. Seeing this, Elio and Caro are going to return, but an attack by Garyuu stops them. Tia is trapped in a building with a barrier erected around it and is hunted by Nove and Wendi while Subaru faces Ginga. Otto works to keep the 6th members apart and Deed soon joins the fight against Tia, since she can cause them the most trouble. Tia is injured in her leg but remembers Subaru and prepares to fight.

Caro, Fried, and Elio continue to battle Lutecia and Garyuu while elsewhere, Agito and Zest find their aerial path blocked by Signum and Rein. Zest will only say that his business is with the general and since he won’t say more, Signum draws her weapon to stop him. Agito has a reaction when she sees Signum’s device Laevatein flare up. However, Agito creates a unison with Zest while Rein creates a unison with Signum. The two unison devices make a statement and then the two knights begin their fight.

Thoughts/Review:

Because there are several episodes and several fights to follow, the writers are doing a decent job with everything. That said, because of the sheer scope of things, one can’t help but feel things are a bit long. Then again, you really can’t just focus on the rescue of Vivio, the defeat of the Numbers, the arrest of Scaglietti, or the destruction of Saint’s Cradle. They are all interconnected.

Vita. Well, the writers have been nothing if not good table setters. I was afraid that she’d be the one to “bite the bullet” if you will. Granted she’s not dead yet and the writers can certainly decide to have some way of saving her (which naturally I’d like to see) but it doesn’t look good for her.

I’m not sure why Arf doesn’t have a greater role in this series (beyond the fact that we are crowded with characters) but it was nice seeing her again as she works with Yuuno.