Thoughts: All good things must come to an end, I really couldn’t tell who was going to survive until the end, since Studio Fantasia really did not hesitate to kill off a lot of the the characters through out the series. The heroic ending with every one cheering Sara on, created a nice atmosphere, from having no friends and isolated, Sara made friends and is no longer lonely. In a way i do find it a little tragic since Sara ends up killing her own brother, but then again it shows she really do recognize Ralph Werec as her brother and not just some one who had betrayed her. The pendant on Ralph near the end really reminded me of what happened near the begging, about their relationship, I admit I pretty much forgot Sara and Ralph shared had such an item to symbolize their relationship.

Overall, this series had been great, animation was above average especially near the end, the music were engaging usually at the end of an episode were a big battle was about to start, it was painful to wait 1 week for the next installment. I absolutely adore the Strain and ships designs, especially the Livertad when it readies for the Strain’s departure. The plot itself was quite simple with a few twists and turns, a girl following her brother’s footsteps but finds out her brother had betrayed his nation. The mystery behind the girl, Emily, and the reason why Ralph Werec became a traitor unfolds as towards the end. This, I think, worked very well giving Sara a reason to fight, which made Soukou no Strain very engaging towards the end. Generally I loved this series, although somethings could have been improved, such as Lavinia’s episode which was somewhat pointless. Think I will miss Soukou no Strain very much……

Summary: Since it’s episode 12 and 13, i will try and condense it. Battle begins between the Strains and Deague’s tumors. Ralph Werec had set a course for the 2 ships to collide before self destructing, time was short, the Libertad had no time to evade, as a last resort they fire full blast at the enemy ship. However, using the tumors as a shield, the Deague battle ship rams into the Libertad. Immediately tumors infiltrate and boards the Libertads, killing many of the crew. Melchisedec suggests he should go and disarm the self destruct, the instructor (whose name I do not know) insist he should go with him.

Mean while in the wards, Emily wakes up to find the infirmary was very busy. Wandering off, Dickon and Becky chases after her, when a tumor breaks through a wall to attack them. Thinking their lives would end, they were saved, by Sara in her Strain EX. Getting off her Strain, she embraces Emily, suddenly there was a gun shot and Dickon was shot in the shoulders, it was Ralph Werec. Back to Melchisedec and the instructor, they were already inside the Deague battle ship, they have brought captain Medlock with them. When Melchisedec thinks he had disarmed the device, there was a sound, Ralph Werec had set up a back up system, there was no way to stop the explosion. Refusing to die on the ship, Medlock runs for her life. It was then the reserve tumors activates and recognize her as an enemy, tear her apart Medlock screams.

The Deague ship sudden started moving again, Melchisedec and the instructor decided they will sacrifice themselves and pilot the ship as far away as possible before the explosion. Just before Melchisedec readies himself for death, a strain breaks through the Bridge of the ship, it was Lottie. Back on the Libertad, Ralph Werec points his gun towards Sara and Emily. Ralph demanding Emily to return to him, he was shocked when she refused. He reasoned with her, she should hate humans for what they have done to her. When Ralph was about to shoot, the Deague ship explodes, causing shutters to seperate Ralph and Sara. Back into her Strain EX, she immediately fly out of the Libertad to confront her brother, who was piloting the Gloire strain. (END of ep 12)

Flash back of Sara waiting in the snow for her brother, who eventually appears and embraces her. In the battle, everyone is exhausted, all their strain damaged. Lavinia, Ami and Martha all suffering from injuries were ordered to return to the ship. The Gambee pilots, who used to bully Sara, was also doing their best, destroying as many tumors as they can. The libertad recieves a message, it was Lottie with Melchisedec and the Instructor. Relieved, Garmichael and the captain signal retreat for all the strains. Mean while the battle between Sara and Ralph rages on. Going bezerk, Sara demands her friends back, Mary, Colin, Sedi and Carris. However when the 2 strain clashed, Sara’s strain had been hit and was loosing Mercurion. Luckily Lottie was there to retrieve her for repairs before Ralph Werec recovered.

Back at the dock, everyone was busy. They had to repair the Strain EX by taking apart other strains and taking their fuels. Sara and Emily reunited again, they head towards the locker rooms, where they see Lottie, she had prepared some sandwiches for Sara. Very confident in her cooking Lottie laughs and insured Sara the food will taste good. Emily quickly eats the food, saying it is very tasty. However when Sara and Lottie ate it, they could do nothing but stare at each other and laugh. Sitting back to back, they go down memory lane, good times they had. Arguing over who won the treadmill competition, they laughed. The scene ends with Lottie saying Sara must come back alive (awww how sweet =3).

Wishing Sara good luck, the Libertad open’s the dock and the Strain EX launches for battle. So the final battle begins, going all out the two strains clash into each other and dodging each others attacks. As the battle rages on, Sara decides she will not let her brother hurt any one else. At the bridge, everyone was watching when, suddenly, they detect the Strain EX entering sub light speed. Sara had entered sub light speed, to lure Ralph Werec away, so no one else can be hurt. The captain proudly present Sara Werec as the first graduate this year as the two strains disappear out of sight.

Sara delivers the final blow, realizing she had killed her brother she bursts into tears. With his last breath, we see Ralph with the pendant, complimenting on Sara’s skills and finally entrusting her with Emily. It turns out the two siblings were in orbit above a planet, the strains started to decends into the planet, with the Gloire completely burnt up in the atmosphere, the Strain EX clashes into the sea. Sara and Emily, walking along a beach, a familiar scene pops into mind, especially when music started playing, it was the ED “Umi no Opal”. As the song fades away, a cargo ship decends from the skies, upon the ship was Lottie and the rest of the space Squadron as well as Becky from the infirmary, Garmichael and Melchisedec.

Farewell Soukou no Strain….