When you are ready for the last battle, save. There are no save crystals once you start the final attack on the Bahamut. Proceed to any Aerodome (Rabanastre, Balphonheim Port, and Bujerba all have them) and go to the private airship desk. Select your destination the world map screen, in this case the icon that is just east of Rabanastre.

Cut scene: Wind and shadows kick up around Rabanastre and it looks like another Arizona monsoon. Actually it is an enormous dark tornado that is headed for Rabanastre. The townspeople are scared and run around. The twister is actually a huge airship (the Bahamut) that must operate on some sort of Tasmanian Devil principle.

Vayne and Larsa are in this giant command ship en route for the resistances’ heavy cruiser. Vayne reflects on the loss of Dr. Cid at the son and muses how it parallels his own recent patricide. Larsa pleads for Vayne to stop this attack because the rebels “have already surrendered.” If the resistance is really surrendering, why do they have all those airships ready for an attack? Vayne says “lets use my huge tornado ship as the peace offering.” He looks over his shoulder and says “What say you Venat?” Venat just silently floats which makes Vayne look like he is just crazy and talking to himself. I know Vayne is inherently evil and a tyrant, and I am aware that Larsa is sympathetic to the concerns of the people of Dalmasca. But, why do I feel like I would say yes if Vayne invited me to a party, and why do I want to see Larsa pushed into the mud.

NOTE: This would be a good time to turn up your speakers.

The Bahamut fires its primary weapon over to the resistance’s “surrendering” ships. The energy ball destroys one of them instantly and the explosion looks like the one that killed the Dreadnaught Leviathan. Larsa doubts Vayne’s totalitarian attack plan and tells him that the people will just rise up against him if it succeeds. Vayne responds in the way only an older sibling would “you think I am wrong? Then just try to kick my ass.” Vayne makes a speech to his crew and mentions “history” once again. Check out that purple stock crawler behind Vayne – Magicite futures are up.

Now really turn up the speakers for this part. Fighter crafts launch from the Rebel carriers and fighters launch from the Archadian carriers. God I love these aerial fights scenes – I could watch them with bamboo under my fingernails. Hey! The rebels shot down an Archadian ship – good for them. The Marquis fires his main canons at the Archadian ship that looks like a giant bat. The rebel guns are kinda lame. The Bahamut responds by charging its primary weapon again. Marquis says “by the gods” and the energy beam strafes their ship destroying the one behind them. Compare how Marquis calls out for the gods while Vayne denies their existence with his “history” speech.

Blathier’s ship arrives in the way he likes it – from behind.

Ashe talks into an electric razor to tell the rebel forces that she is going into the Bahamut. The Marquis is like “ahhh no you don’t.” Larsa then comes on the radio saying that he supports the princess’ plans. Marquis is like “ahhh ok.” You know the resistance forces are doomed when their general (Marquis) concedes to two people who are both under the age of 19. That, and it turns out the Marquis was duped by Vaan using Balthier’s magic microphone to impersonate Larsa. They may as well form a circular shooting squad at this point.

More aerial attacks on the Bahamut. Balthier starts his approach and it looks like he has gained some weight. He makes some jokes about his flying being like a dance – I hate when movie pilots use metaphor to describe their superior skills. The Strahl docs to the Bahamut and Vaan stands in the gate directing his clan to “come on.” See how much his character has grown, he is now giving orders and directing the clan. Balthier surmises that Vayne is in the control tower. By going after Vayne the clan can decapitate the command structure and stop the war quickly. Ya, that worked real well in Iraq.

When you regain control, proceed through the following to get to the first of three boss fights. I suggest holding R2 and fleeing through all of this. There is no reason to waste your resources when you have the final boss fights ahead.
- Venture through the south door.
- In the next room, continue down the stairs and follow around the bend.
- Make a right and up the stairs that lead northwest.

Cut scene: the party descends the stairs and the battleship rumbles. A trio of rebel crafts attack with the sun behind them and are able to make something explode on the Bahamut. It looks like the rebels are doing ok.

Back in the Bahamut, the clan discusses what will happen when Ashe becomes queen. All of them start kissing up to her because they know if she does claim the crown she will nominate them for some pretty cushy cabinet positions. Notice how no one is mentioning free elections though. And shouldn’t the talk about a new government be done in a more public forum than a battle cruiser’s cargo hold? My advice to Ashe, ditch these guys they are either dumb (Basch), criminals (Balthier), totally inexperienced (Vaan, Penelo), or just weird (Fran).

When you regain control, circle around the perimeter of the inner ring.
- Turn down the first spoke you see to get to the hub.
- From the hub, circle around and exit using the hallway that leads due west.
- The next zone is an elevator.
- Heal your party, charge your MP, and cast all the protects, shells, hastes needed to start the boss fights.
- When ready, engage the lift by running up to one of the consoles along the western wall.

Cut scene: Judge Gabranth enters and is ready for another fight with Basch and the party. This battle is quite sad if you think of it in context of the rest of the story. At this point Gabranth no long fights for the Empire. He doesn’t even care if Vayne conquers the world or the Occurians. This fight is all about him and Basch. Gabranth thought that he was doing the right thing by assimilating with the Empire when they invaded. However, Basch was the truly honorable brother because he was loyal to his homeland and did not sell out to the Empire. Gabranth realizes that at this point everything he has done was wrong. He is mad at Basch for his own failures.

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