Episode 19 - Cradle
On board the Arthra, Hayate briefs Riot Force Six about their next move. Predictably, since the attack, the Ground Forces have officially taken over pursuit of Scaglietti. However, Riot Force Six is still technically investigating the Relics, and since Scaglietti just happens to be involved in that, they'll be going after him separately. Everyone except Vice and Zafira is now fully recovered; Alto is now the temporary helicopter pilot, and Lucino is the Arthra's helmsman.
At Central HQ, Subaru apologizes to Mach Caliber for letting it get so badly damaged. Shario tells her the device has requested some power enhancements and asks for her permission to implement them. Subaru agrees, and Mach Caliber promises to support her without fail.
Rein informs Nanoha that everyone's devices' final limiters are being removed. However, she warns Nanoha that her new experimental 'Blaster mode' is dangerous, and she should avoid using it. Nanoha says she won't. Meanwhile, Signum, who has been training with Erio, tells Fate that he's grown extremely skilled. Fate says that Nanoha has trained all the Forwards to be as strong as possible.
In the medical bay, Shamal finishes giving Vita a checkup. She's worried about the Guardian Knight system, noting that the link between all of them is getting weaker, and their Healing Factor seems to be fading away over time. Vita says it's a normal result of being separated from the Book of Darkness. For most of their existence, they were doomed to live their lives over and over again, unable to die — now, they finally have what they always wanted: finite lifespans to live out with their final master. Shamal concurs, but says she doesn't want to lose them too soon. Vita tells her not to worry, saying they have too much to protect now to fail.
Subaru arrives on the Arthra just as an emergency alert sounds. Combat cyborgs are attacking the Ground Forces' surface weapons platforms, Einherjar. With their latest enhancements, the Numbers manage to neutralize them all before the TSAB can react. Uno informs Scaglietti, adding that all of his work is now coming to fruition. As she makes her report, she can be seen carrying Vivio through a cavernous facility full of strange architecture and technology. Scaglietti claims that his dream is about to come true, and nobody can stop it.
At that moment, however, Verossa and Schach are trying to do just that. Following up on leads from Fate and Genya, they've located the entrance to an underground facility which they believe to be Scaglietti's base. Its defenses are too powerful for them to immediately get through; Verossa contacts Hayate and asks for support.
Just then, the Numbers shift their attack and start heading towards Ground Forces HQ. At the same time, Zest and Agito are spotted, headed the same way by air. Surveillance footage of the combat cyborgs reveals that they have a new member: Ginga is with them, wearing the same body suit embroidered with the number 'XIII'.
As Verossa and Schach fight Scaglietti's defences, the earth begins to shake. Lutecia is using her summoned creatures to break open the ground nearby. At the same time, Scaglietti sends another message to the TSAB, addressing them as his 'sponsors', and asking if they can see what he's showing them. Something massive emerges from the ground, shaking off tons of earth and trees before starting to rise into the sky: an ancient Belkan battleship called the Saint's Cradle.
As the Saint Church, the TSAB, and Riot Force Six watch in horror, Scaglietti shows them what's powering the ship. A terrified Vivio is wired into a throne-like control chair, screaming for her mother, as Scaglietti proclaims the realization of his dream...
Tropes
- As You Know: Uno and Scaglietti engage in an Exposition-laden conversation about how his plans have unfolded up until now.
- Downer Ending: This episode concludes with yet another: Nanoha forced to watch, helpless, as Vivio screams out for her over Scaglietti's video feed.
- Forgotten Superweapon: The Saint's Cradle. Scaglietti refers to it as "that which created a world, and destroyed it."
- Loophole Abuse: Invoked by Hayate. The Ground Forces have insisted on taking over the investigation of Scaglietti, due to his attack on their HQ. Hayate therefore says that Riot Force Six will carry on with its official mission instead: going after the Relics and whoever has been stealing them... which just happens to be Scaglietti.
- Powered by a Forsaken Child: This is what Scaglietti needed Vivio for: to activate the Saint's Cradle, something only the Belkan Saint King can do.
