ラストエグザイル-銀翼のファム-/Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam Episode 16
Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing – 16

Vasant’s 5th Fleet and allied ships fly to Boreas.  Under a flag of truce, Vasant meets with 3rd and 4th Fleet commanders Ōrang and Sorūsh. While Ōrang has doubts about Luscinia’s actions, he agrees with Sorūsh to not join Vasant, though later, he questions Sorūsh on whether they should be firing on the ship carrying the empress. Back with the allied fleet, Fam is having her own doubts, which Gisey addresses with Millia. Gisey’s father speaks with Fam, who confirms she’ll go on the mission. However, during the attack, Fam can’t fire on an Ades Vanship, and subsequently, a Sky Pirate ship gets destroyed. Fam drains her gun of ammo before deciding she can’t do this, jettisoning her torpedoes. At the same time, Ōrang still questions whether he’ll be able to fire on Augusta’s ship, recalling when he and Sorūsh were cadets.

Vasant senses Ōrang’s hesitation while safely below decks, Sārā and her maid hear the battle, which Sārā realizes means they are firing on one of her generals, which brings her to tears. Meanwhile, Fam returns to have her Vespa equipped to capture Sorūsh’s command ship, Senapati. With the Sky Pirates backing her up, they target Senapati, which is attempting to head for Augusta’s ship. They Sky Pirates fail in their capture attempt, but when Sorūsh gives the order to attack Augusta’s ship, Ōrang makes a choice and has his 3rd Fleet attack Sorūsh’s 4th Fleet, with Ōrang’s Admirari firing on the Senapati. Sorūsh is initially surprised, but respects Ōrang for following his own path.

Sorūsh gives the order to the 3rd Fleet that those who wish to side with Augusta should cease their attacks while those who want true peace should continue to fight. In the end, only the Senapati presses forward with the attack, as one of the natural bridges into Boreas collapses, apparently taking the Senapati with it. Sārā races to the deck, followed by her maid, when she sees the exploding ship as well as Sorūsh’s banner. As such, she cries out his name repeatedly. Though the battle is won, Sārā refuses to see Vasant. Millia looks horrified at the destroyed ships all around when an injured Dio flies in with Alvis. Elsewhere, Luscinia confirms to Alauda that they will proceed on the path laid out before them 10-year prior.

OK, so why exactly were the seiyuu for Ōrang and Sorūsh changed to females using boy voices during the flashback? They looked like post-puberty teens, not prepubescent little boys. *_*

That aside, considering that Ōrang has been having doubts since Luscinia devastated Glacies with the Turan Exile, it isn’t surprising to me that he joined Vasant. Sorūsh is good at what he does, but he’s going to obey orders no matter what. So, Sorūsh apparently dies at the hands of his best friend. (I say “apparently,” because in sci-fi and fantasy, unless you see them die, they ain’t dead.)

It is understandable that Sārā won’t see Vasant.  No doubt, Sārā feels that Vasant used her, which is true.  Sārā probably figured that there wouldn’t be any fighting, but when one of her beloved generals is apparently dead due to the fighting, she is devastated.  I suspect that it will take Ōrang to get Sārā to forgive Vasant.

Fam’s own hesitation and decision to fight the war the Sky Pirate way made sense to me. However, I wasn’t thrilled with how easily the Senapati blew off the attempts to capture it. It takes roughly a fair number of harpoons with cables, yet somehow, magically ejects all of said harpoons just by increasing speed? I call “bull” on that.  It would have been more realistic if the Sky Pirates were forced to detach their cables because of the Senapati picking up speed.

Finally, there’s the return of Dio with Alvis. I’m glad they made it out safely. Based on their conversation in the recap episode, I’m going to guess that Alvis will bring in the Anatoray-Disith Exile to counter whatever Luscinia does. I guess Alvis will get to meet Sārā now.

So, the heroes have captured Boreas as well as having their forces bolstered by the remains of the 3rd and 4th Fleets. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.