天下制覇

Vita, Fate, and Subaru mudwrestle for 20 minutes. Another training episode. Whichever.

Mike’s computer apparently caught fire the other day, so you’re with me for this one. Fear my wrath.

Anyway, a pretty decent cool down episode from last week that reintroduces us to the eternal gothic lolita, Vita, and gives her the opportunity to hit on Nanoha train the cadets in the finer marital martial arts. Next week we return to some actual dramatic action and are hopefully finished with all this training, although I could be persuaded to watch Signum and Fate give the cadets some pointers in the finer arts of mud wrasslin’.

The episode begins with Rein reviewing the last mission as well as the status of the Relic. It turns out to be number IX in a series and has been sent elsewhere for further study. Shirley comes to check up on Rein and ask about the devices.

Over on Generic Training Island, Vita is sparring with Subaru. Vita takes a swing and Subaru blocks it, but is thrown back anyway. Vita then gives a long speech about how their job is to protect and support Nanoha, as well as the differences between a shield and barrier and how Subaru needs to learn how to use both. Fate is training her two recruits on predicting enemy movement and using your speed to stay ahead of the enemy and how to use cover to your advantage. Even Erio is amazed at the speed that she can dodge the shots. Nanoha and Axel Shooter is training Teana in her reactions and shooting abilities, especially when forced to do both on offense and defense. Teana also seems to be able to control her shots to a much better degree than before.

Signum and her boy toy are looking on and making their own judgements about the cadets and how they’re progressing. She’s relatively impressed with their progress, but notes that they’ve still got a ways to go. The cadets are worn out by their training, so the three call it a day for the kiddos and go to check in with Hayate. Hayate asks Subaru about her sister and father, who she’s going to meet before taking off.

In the mess hall, everybody is eating some kind of mutant spaghetti beast which seems to contain something green. I’m betting it’s the shrubbery. (editor’s note: It’s yakisoba, you spaz) They chat about how people joined the service and family, especially Erio and his foster mother Fate and Subaru and her military father and sister.

Over with Hayate and Subaru’s father, they talk shop for a bit about how things are progressing with her division when Ginga walks in. Hayate briefs Subaru’s father on the relic and she talks about how her direct subordinates are doing while Rein and Ginga chum it up. They end up talking about Subaru and devices, but nothing particularly interesting. Hayate and Nakajima’s meeting comes to an end and Hayate thanks him for his continued support before we flip over to the research facility where the device is being kept.

At this point, I’d like to point out that the raw’s audio wavelength about triples and everybody sounds like they’re possessed for about a minute.

Fate recognizes something in one of the Gadget Drones, and sees that they’re powered by Jewel Seeds… though a closer examination reveals a panel that says Jewel Scarlett. They bring up the information on the person studying them, and to the surprise of nobody, it’s a rather evil looking scientist that we have totally never ever seen before. Fate tells Shirley about her and Nanoha’s former encounter with the Jewel Seeds and has her try to dig up as much info as possible. She also fills in Hayate on her discovery, who is having lunch with the Nakajima duo. They refuse to let her pick up the check.

In Fate’s Lovemobile, Fate continues telling Shirley about what she knows of our good doctor and we’re treated to a shot of him and his army of clones with a few tanks empty. He talks about the Relic Weapon, and we see our mini-Rider wandering the streets with a glove fairly similar to Kerykeion.

The cadets are finishing another training session with Nanoha and Vita. Vita prods Nanoha on how things are going and how she’s doing with all the new work and the Relic case. Vita is a bit slackjawed at the response while she talks about everything and says how amazing it is that everything is coming together. Vita remains the eternal uppity loli and gets cranky when Nanoha pats her head and gives us a few final words silently about protecting Nanoha. I’d also like to point out that Nanoha’s hips shake a lot more when walking next to Vita than any other time in the series so far.