**Chapter 470**
**The Atraken Gambit – Part 3**
**Scene 1**
**Devil POV (Alpha-Class ARC Trooper)**
The sky over Atraken was a chaotic symphony of fire and metal.
I leaned out the open side door of the MAAT gunship, wind whipping against my beskar helmet as the squadron raced low across the rocky terrain. Below us, CIS armored battalions — hundreds of AAT tanks and spider droids — advanced in rigid formation toward the Republic lines.
"Keep it tight!" I barked over the squad channel. "Whispers on overwatch, Defenders — light those tanks up!"
A squadron of sleek TIE Whispers danced around our formation like guardian angels, their superior maneuverability making short work of any vulture droids that tried to intercept. Higher up, TIE Defenders screamed in, unleashing barrages of laser fire and proton torpedoes into the heart of the enemy armor column. Bright explosions bloomed across the battlefield as AATs were turned into scrap.
"Devil, you seeing this?" Lucky called from the next gunship. "The big lizard is doing most of the work!"
I glanced toward the massive shape lumbering across the plains — the Leviathan Krayt Dragon. It roared, a sound that vibrated through my armor, before charging straight into a Separatist formation. Sixteen clawed limbs crushed tanks beneath them while corrosive ichor sprayed from its maw, melting entire squads of droids into slag.
I couldn't help but grin under my helmet. "Yeah… General really knows how to make an entrance."
Our gunships banked hard, dropping troopers directly into the fray. I leapt out first, jetpack flaring as I landed amid the chaos, ST-W48 rifle already roaring on full auto.
"This is the Way," I muttered, squeezing the trigger.
**Scene 2**
**Dagon POV**
The battlefield was alive with color and destruction.
I watched from the open ramp of my command gunship as each of the girls led their own strike groups with lethal grace.
Ahsoka streaked ahead in her TIE Advanced, green lasers lancing out as she tore through a squadron of vulture droids. Flare dominated the skies in her TIE Defender, its superior firepower turning entire droid formations into scrap. Zule and Stella flew in tight formation with TIE Whispers, their green and yellow armor flashing as they provided close air support for the ground troops. Shin and Erictia piloted Skelters, their purple and blue armor standing out as they dove into the thickest fighting. Kayla had taken my personal Skelter, her green armor gleaming as she unleashed baridium missiles into a cluster of AAT tanks.
That left me in the heavy gunship, coordinating while keeping an eye on our most unusual ally.
The Leviathan Krayt Dragon rampaged across the CIS main base like a living apocalypse. Two hundred meters of pure destruction — sixteen clawed limbs crushing everything in its path, corrosive ichor melting droid ranks, and its thunderous roar shattering morale wherever it went.
I keyed the comm. "All units, focus fire on the command spires. Let the Leviathan handle the heavy armor."
The girls' voices came back in quick succession — confident, excited, and perfectly coordinated through our bonds.
I smiled beneath my helmet. *This is working.*
**Scene 3**
**Atraken Alpha Command Station**
Inside the central Separatist command bunker, chaos reigned.
B1 battle droids ran in circles, bumping into each other as alarms blared and the ground shook from the approaching Leviathan.
"Alert! Alert!" one B1 shouted, waving its arms. "There's a giant lizard attacking the base!"
Another B1 stopped mid-stride. "Wait… is it a dragon? Or a really big lizard? I'm confused."
A third droid walked straight into a console. "Oof. The dragon is eating our tanks. Should we file a complaint?"
The command droid — sporting slightly shinier plating — tried to restore order. "Everyone remain calm! We are Separatist battle droids! We do not panic!"
A fourth B1 raised its hand. "But sir, the giant lizard just stepped on my cousin Roger!"
"Roger was a tank, you idiot!"
"Well, he was family!"
The entire room shook as the Leviathan roared again, closer this time. Dust rained from the ceiling.
The command droid looked at the flickering holomap. "Uh oh… the communication dish is gone."
Another B1 tilted its head. "Does that mean they can't hear us screaming for help?"
A pause.
Then all the B1s started screaming at once.
"Help! Help! There's a dragon eating the base!"
"I didn't sign up for this! I wanted to be a protocol droid!"
"Can we surrender? Do we have a white flag? Someone paint one of us white!"
The command droid threw its hands up. "This is why I hate organic lifeforms! They bring dragons!"
Outside, the Leviathan roared again, and the bunker's roof began to crack.