The commander of the Stratus is unfazed by Alberic's pleas for time and orders the Stratus to fire on the Soara. As the Soara and Stratus fire at each other, Zuita is able to free Akari from Grad's mind control. The continued battle between the sky fortresses has severely damaged the Stratus and caused the Soara's cannon to misfire, with Alberic and the unfortunate ground forces of the Alliance caught in the misaimed blast.