Chapter 11

Dealing with the chaos ensuing due to the sudden and overwhelming Cerberus forces reacting to Aria's attack. Luckily, Cerberus had more important things in mind and focused all their forces into one location; where Aria was headed and looks like eventually bunkered up. No doubt where Nyreen is now. Some time after the altercation Brill picked up on the security cameras, Nyreen requested radio silence. Brill was all to happy to provide, but the silence from Nyreen was still, uneasy.

Still, at least with Aria's attacks, Cerberus was being handled… for now. Brill kept her eyes on the schematic of Omega floating in front of her, her eyes narrowing like she was expecting it to give her answers. Luckily, her omni-tool suddenly illuminating on her wrist made her silently sigh, closing her eyes briefly at relief.

"Took you long enough." Brill keyed her earpiece, speaking as soon as she did. "Where are you?"

"I'm nearby. How are things holding up?" Straight back to business. Brill quickly bites back the next question, shaking her head to clear her head of it, turning back to the matter at hand.

"Smooth. With Cerberus focusing on other things, looks rather… quiet?"

"BOSS!" Brill glances up, looking at the Talon who spoke. "Scouts report Cerberus forces massing outside the territory! They're attacking one of our outposts!"

"Well." Brill begins, quickly regretting her choice of words that she said to Nyreen. "Except for that." Brill quickly closes the holomap, unclipping her gun from her hip. "I'm heading out. Seal the doors to the catwalk after I leave, I'm moving to intercept, don't open those doors again until Nyreen or my signal." A few Talons nod their acknowledgement, leaving Brill to quickly depart the area until she gets to the catwalk, waiting to hear the satisfying click of the doors locking behind her.

"Good. Meet me at the cargo hangar near the landing pads, we can intercept Cerberus there so they don't get our supplies." Nyreen's orders come clear and crisp, Brill nodding to herself as she keys her earpiece to silence any further contact until they regroup.


Brill regroups with Nyreen just nearby the cargo hangar, signs of battle already ringing around them, even inside the building itself. Instead of rushing in, Nyreen grabs Brill's arm, gesturing to the roof of the building. "We're heading up."

The words make Brill cock an eyebrow, glancing up, guessing on just how tall the building is. "Right. You're kidding." She observes, looking back at Nyreen who simply rolls her eyes, taking a second to jog before letting her biotics propel her upwards, catching the ledge of the roof to pull herself up. "Not kidding." She nods, answering her own statement for Nyreen. She turns to take a couple more steps back, giving herself some room for a running start, before doing just that. Brill's ears pop as she jumps, feeling her biotics lurch from the bottom of her feet, throwing herself up, the side of the building comes up fast as she holds the palm of her hand out, giving herself a biotic cushion so she doesn't face plant the building. Instead of catching the edge of the roof, she grabs Nyreen's lowered arm, the turian helping pull the human up.

Secure on the roof, Nyreen gestures to a hatch not too far off, open and inviting. Sounds of battle from within seeming to have ceased, the likelihood of Cerberus being the ones who were defeated, slim. Nyreen and Brill make their way to the hatch, Brill hoping down first onto a support beam for the ceiling, the turian following quickly behind her.

"Where is target Alpha and Beta?" The mechanized voice of a Cerberus trooper rings true through the insides of the building, making Brill glance at Nyreen, grinning slightly at the mention.

The scene below looks grim, five plus Cerberus men holding two Talons to their knees, weapons aimed and ready. Brill looks up at Nyreen, crouched and observing the scene. Right now they're unnoticed, but at the present moment its best to wait for the right moment to take free the two Talons and take down Cerberus. A quick glance from Nyreen makes Brill gesture her head forward, both of them taking stride to cross the banister, moving to hover closer to the edge of the room

"Answer now." One of the Cerberus Engineers insists, shoving the human Talon mercenary, gun pressing against the side of his head. "Last chance, Talon! Answer or…"

Nyreen quickly holds up her hand, balled in a fist, Brill ceases any movement, her brows furrowing in confusion, Nyreen's finger points towards the far door to answer.

The door at the far side of the room suddenly opens, an armed human soldier and Aria emerging from it, guns targeting the Cerberus troops.

"What the?" One Cerberus troop quickly takes notice of their arrival, the rest responding to the intruder.

"Back off." The Engineer keeps the gun on the Talon's head.

"I don't think so." The human soldier, her gun trained on the troops with Aria standing by her side.

"There's our distraction." Nyreen murmurs. Brill quickly glances up at the turian just in time to see her move, quickly shuffling across the beam to loom just over the largest cluster of troops and the two Talons. Brill quickly follows, keeping her pistol ready. Nyreen stops, hovering at the edge of the beam as she looks down, just above the Engineer, his gun still on the Talon.

With a firm hand still on the Talon's shoulder, the Cerberus trooper instead aims the gun at the Talon's knee, firing off one shot causing the Talon to exclaim in pain. Still not satisfied, the trooper pressed his foot into the bullet wound, causing the Talon to scream, the trooper quickly raises his gun back to the Talon's head.

Nyreen fires a quick shot, square in the chest of the Cerberus trooper, him crumpling over backwards. She doesn't waste a second before she leaps down into the fray, landing gracefully and proceeding to kick the next nearest trooper square in the chest, sending him flying back. Brill quickly follows suit, dropping down beside Nyreen just as another trooper foolishly rushes the turian, only to be met with Brill's elbow to the side of his head using her biotics enough to propel the trooper across the room. Another run at Brill from her side but Nyreen quickly dispatches them with a shot to the head. Brill quickly turns, clipping her pistol back to her hip, the remaining two troopers rushing at Nyreen with her back turned to them. Brill's biotics crackle at the palm of her hands, the resounding pop sending the two flying back into the wall and crumpling down to the floor.

Nyreen straightens up, glancing behind her to inspect Brill's handiwork, her back turned to Aria and Shepard as lets Brill help the two Talons back to their feet. The human soldier and Aria having already lowered their weapons and slowly approaching the two of them.

Nyreen keeps herself turned away from them even as they approach, instead looking to Brill. "Take care of the wounded and scavenge what you can. I want us out of here ASAP." Brill nods, opening her omni-tool to do just that.

Brill turns as the door behind them opens and three more Talons enter the room. "You heard her. Let's move it." She closes her omni-tool and nods at the new Talons who just arrived. Nyreen finally turns to look at the human soldier and Aria, both of which remain still, rather perplexed.

"Looks like we found the Talon leader." The human soldier comments to Aria.

Aria doesn't hear her, her eyes locked instead to the dark skinned human who stands just beside Nyreen, clad in the armor that all the other Talons wear. Brill glances over her shoulder, locking eyes with Aria's for the briefest of moments before Brill brakes the contact and looks to Nyreen who walks towards her.

Aria shakes her head clear, instead glaring daggers at Nyreen whom she approaches, a slight venom in her voice. "My, my. Nyreen, aren't you full of surprises?" Brill watches Nyreen and Aria walk past, catching another glimpse from the corner of Aria's eyes. With some proding, Brill looks away from the asari, instead looking to her companion, the strange female soldier clad in armor, a rather strange detail emblazoned on the right breastplate; N7. Recognition strikes Brill for a brief moment, a name instantly coming to her mind from the times she had seen the news-vids that came from elsewhere; Shepard.

Instead of answer, Nyreen takes interest in a dead Cerberus soldier, looking through the supplies he held. "Aria. The deception was necessary. I needed to figure out what your plans were." She stands back up, keeping her back to them. "The people on Omega depend on us. I couldn't risk compromising our operation." She turns to Aria, her eyes narrowing at the Queen.

Brill motions the Talons towards an elevator as the trio speaks, returning to her duties despite the… awkwardness of it all. She orders two Talons to stand guard at a door while the others follow her up the elevator to gather the supply crates on the above level. Crates of Eezo and other supplies to help their attacks against the Cerberus occupation. She waves at the krogan to begin moving the cargo while she watches the discussion from above.

"Not exactly standard procedures for a street gang." Shepard remarks.

"When Cerberus invaded, everything was a mess. I brought… new direction." Nyreen turns away, not wanting to elaborate. She makes her way to a console that continuously beeps. Aria looks to Shepard, confused, only shrugging as they follow her to the console. "The general's been hunting us ever since. Right now, he's attacking one of our main outposts. That's where I need to be."

Brill looks quickly to the krogan as he moves the crates, he looks up to nod at Brill, nodding in return. Brill hops down from the banisters, using her biotics to slow her fall briefly before she lands and approaches Nyreen where she stands at the console. "We're all done here." Brill says, keeping her eyes on Nyreen, despite the burning eyes she can feel off to her side.

"Right." She steps back from the console, glancing briefly at Brill to nod at her, confirming the information. "Aria, Commander Shepard: whatever you're here for, the answer's no. Kindly escort yourselves off Talon territory." Brill steps away, taking her distance as Nyreen instead turns her attention to Shepard and Aria, harshness in her voice as she speaks.

"We're here to help. We'll talk about it after we reach your outpost." Shepard added.

Nyreen's eyes narrows at the statement, taking a cautious step towards them which Aria returns with her own firm stride. "That's a generous offer. Aria, does the commander also speak for you?" Her voice only slightly cloying, knowing full well how pissed off it'll make Aria.

Aria takes a moment to glare at the turian, biting her lip. "Not the way I would have put it, but that's the idea." She declares.

Nyreen's mandibles flinches with what could have resembled a smirk as she steps past Aria and make her way past the Talon troops that continues to move the cargo out of the room. "All right, then. Come with me." She make her way to to door where the Talon troops had come through. Brill jogs up behind them, standing beside Nyreen for a moment. "Get the cargo to the outpost, Brill. We'll clear the way."

Brill nods, acknowledging the order and joins the other Talons in transporting the cargo. At least this way, she could avoid more awkward confrontations with Aria and possibly even Nyreen if this continues.


Nyreen, Aria, and Shepard's progress through the catwalks easily clears a path to the outpost, allowing Brill and her troops an easy passage with the cargo. Although there were a few stray mechs, Brill easily dispatched them with a few bullets. Even as she progresses behind them, she could hear the explosions and gun shots that lay further ahead, thanks to Aria and the other's handiwork. They make it to the outpost shortly after the trio does, Brill ordering the cargo to be stored away as she make it past the guards to the elevator, she nodded her acknowledgement to them and they handed her the latest reports on a datapad.

The elevator always had a slow agonizing feel to it, like it takes forever to get to the top. Brill stares up as she watches the elevator move, taking a slow deep breath as she considers what possibly lay ahead when she regroups with Nyreen. What was going to happen? Brill quickly shakes her head clear as she makes it to the top. Her omni-tool giving a ring as she steps out and she quickly glances at it, acknowledging the information with a quick message back before she picks up the pace and jogs down the hall where she sees Nyreen and the others, having finally caught up to them.

Brill runs past Aria and Shepard who follows closely behind Nyreen, joining the turian's side. "Intel reported in. The group of civilians we managed to evac arrived safely at the other outpost." Brill reports in, keeping stride next to Nyreen, and even there, she could feel Aria's gaze burning into the back of her head. She hands the datapad to Nyreen.

They make their way to two large blast doors, two guards beside the doors bid welcome to Nyreen and Brill as the doors open. Inside resembles closely to the outpost where Brill had lived for a time, Talons gathering all around, the walls going high upwards, each floor filled with Talons leaning over banisters, waiting to hear the news. It had all been whispers up to now, that Aria T'loak had returned to reclaim what she thought was hers. Except everyone here follows Nyreen now.

The group make their way into the center of the main room. Brill narrows her eyes as she glances at her wrist, recalling another bit of information. "Also, we've had routine sweeps report nothing new about the adjutants. As far as we know, they're still confined." Brill adds, returning her eyes forward, nodding to the Talons in the room.

"Adjutants?" Shepard asks, the question making Nyreen turn to look at her. Brill stops briefly, having heard the question, but she sahkes her head and continued her way to stand beside her comrades, assessing how the defenses were doing.

"Creatures created by Cerberus. They eviscerate their victims' DNA, converting them into more adjutants." Nyreen explains, handing the datapad in her hand to Shepard so she can see.

Shepard holds the datapad up and scans through the information they had so far on the adjutants, most of which they had compiled from first hand experiences with them. Aria steps forward, glancing at Shepard. "Some kind of Reaper-based weapon. I fought with them before. They're a nightmare." Aria adds.

Shepard glances down at the datapad, the schematics and brief anatomy of the creatures visible on the pad. "It got worse after you left." Nyreen speaks up, her voice dropping as she recalls what had happened. "Cerberus lost control of them." She began to pace. "Those things tore apart the gangs, then attacked everyone in sight." She continues. "If we hadn't found a way to contain the rest of them, the entire station would be infected by now." Nyreen glanced briefly towards Brill before she returns her attention back to Shepard and Aria.

"Keeping your people alive through that couldn't have been easy." Shepard observes.

Nyreen lowers her head, the few Talons and Brill, within earshot, do the same. "I watched friends get turned into monsters, and I had to kill them." She looks back up with more determination. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have an outpost to defend." She turns away and briskly strides towards Brill and the others, as if on que, Brill quickly follows Nyreen close by her side as they check the defenses.

"The adjutants really got under her skin." Aria notes.

Nyreen make her way up to a small landing to her command console, Brill following closely. It wasn't until they gets there that Nyreen slams her hands onto the console, exhaling a heavy breath. Brill stops silently beside her, arms at her sides until Nyreen recomposes herself. "Brill, I want you to secure the perimeter, check the catwalk. Make sure no Cerberus slip through the cracks. I'm hoping to keep this outpost for a bit longer or die trying." She says, her voice hoarse from the recalled memories.

Brill glances briefly behind her. "I can have someone do a perimeter sweep-." She begins.

"No." Nyreen breathes. "I trust you to get it done and make sure our defenses are good." She says over her shoulder, taking a deep breath as she regains her composure and stands up straighter in front of the console.

Brill nods. "I will." She steps back, removing the pistol from her hip and leaving Nyreen alone to her thoughts. Brill makes her way down the landing, jogging past Shepard, only slowing briefly to lock eyes with Aria, the blue eyes of the asari narrowing coldly at her. Brill quickly looks away, quickening her pace as she runs past them to do her duty.


Despite Nyreen's worries, the catwalk is secure, Brill had seen to it. If it wasn't for the three of them blowing a path through the catwalks, it could have been different, but for now it remained calm. Still, Brill kept her gun at the ready, her eyes scanning the darker corners where the light didn't quite reach, just in case, her hand adjusting its grip on her gun nervously. Even now, the dark was still her enemy, even more so with the adjutants and Cerberus out there, causing havoc. For now, the adjutants were sealed away in a part of the station, but who knew how long that would last.

A cool feeling sweeps its way across Brill's back, making her shiver and the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She knew the feeling, knew it all too well, but she refused move, refusing to even acknowledge the presence behind her. Still, a silence settled, with the presence remaining behind her, making Brill sigh.

"Are you going to ask me something or just stand there?" Brill finally asks, breaking the silence, yet still refusing to turn.

"You…" A voice finally comes, gripped with anger, pain, and confusion, as Brill expected. "Why? Why are you here? Why are you standing beside Nyreen like you're…." Her second. She knew Aria had meant to say it, but couldn't bring herself to demand those words, the venom within her voice alone said it.

Brill reclipped her pistol to her hip, finally turning to face Aria. What she sees she had expected, the asari is livid, her body tense in anger but her eyes read something more of confusion and the demand for answers. From the smell of the ozone, she could tell Aria's biotics were flaring up from her anger, however briefly. Brill takes a deep breath, keeping herself calm as she returns Aria's steely confused gaze with her own of placid contempt.

"I stole from you for years for the Blood Pack." Eyes widen with realization. "Until Nyreen gave me a way out from the Blood Pack's control, I joined the Talons. Nyreen taught me how to master my biotics, took me under her wing for a time. I was a Talon for a year or so before the Blood Pack tried to kill me, and then I left, needing to escape the mercenary life. Had to find a way to live, so I started building a reputation for myself by confessing to you that the Blood Pack was stealing from you and I was the one doing it, but…." Brill rubs her chin briefly. "Oh, Cerberus took over Omega, of course you pretty much know that already. Nyreen came to me asking for help in fighting back the occupation and I said yes." Brill let her hand fall to her side, shrugging. "Guess I just… became Nyreen's right hand man. Is that what your question was?"

Aria grit her teeth, her hands balling into fists as she glares down at Brill. "You… lied to me." Aria hissed.

Brill sighs, shrugging as she glances away. "I'm a Thief." She looks back at Aria, seemingly bored of the conversation. "You never actually asked me how long I was stealing from you." She added.

Tendrils of biotics slowly rise from Aria's skin, her anger rising to Brill's response, the asari's anger coming off as the tendrils lick at her skin. Brill doesn't even have time to respond before her ears pop feeling the rush of air, Aria's fist appears in an instant, hovering just inches from Brill's face. Aria's fist shakes as she holds it, her hand slowly lowering, leaving not even a scratch on Brill. Aria's anger seething through her teeth in harsh breaths, her dark hooded eyes looking to Brill who remains standing rather calmly, looking up at Aria's taller form. They remain there, Aria's blue eyes of anger locked to Brill's calm brown, staring at each other, searching for something, neither sure of what.

They weren't the eyes Aria remembered seeing last, something was different. Deep down inside Brill knew she they did, what did Aria see now? Still the same puny human from before or something more?

Brill wasn't left in her own thoughts for long before Aria's hand fists the strap of Brill's armor, pulling her, Aria's free hand grasping Brill's face, the asari's lips frantically bruising Brill's own. Brill quickly grasps Aria's shoulder, forcing the asari back and frantically looking around them. What felt like a cool breeze slithers through Brill's spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing once more as she watches Aria breathe heavily. Brill takes a step forward, still lightly holding Aria's shoulder, taking another step closer, but the asari doesn't move. She could almost feel Aria's breath upon her skin.

Brill quickly side steps, grabbing Aria's forearm and pulling the asari to the side, away from the door to the outpost, just barely out of view from anyone who may be on the catwalk. Aria quickly presses her back against the wall, pulling Brill back to her. A moan escapes Aria's lips at the contact of the wall, her free hand gripping Brill's collar and pulling the small human towards her, their lips locking with one another in reckless abandon.

Brill could feel Aria's hot breath against her lips, opening both their lips for air and the taste of one another. Brill relents, her hands flying to the straps of Aria's armored jumpsuit at her waist, struggling as she unstraps one clasp. The time it takes to loosen the one strap feels like forever, but it just enough for Brill's hand to slip beneath the leather of the suit. Sliding her hand beneath Aria's jumpsuit in what little way she could. Her hand slipping down to cup Aria's hot and wet azure, Brill's fingers curling easily as they slip through the wet folds.

The contact make them both moan, releasing from their feverish kiss, their lips instead pressed against each other's skin, breathing heavily at the brief contact, relishing in the remembered touch. Brill dips her head into the crook of Aria's neck, breathing heavily as she slides her fingers across Aria's wet azure, remembering the scent of the asari against her. She could feel Aria's heavy breathing against her ear, the soft languishing moans of satisfaction that breathes through her lips, the sound alone make Brill quiver, her own body reacting to Aria's satisfaction.

Brill lets her eyes close, moaning in time to Aria, occasionally dipping her fingers into Aria's azure to hear the sharp intake of satisfied breath. It makes her relish the familiar feeling of having the asari next to her, the little asari bending to her will. "I missed you." Brill whispers.

Aria pulls back, holding the sides of Brill's head to pull the human's gaze to her own. "Shut up." She replies sternly, still moaning breathlessly. "And fuck me."

Brill obliges, dipping her fingers deep into Aria's azure, making the asari throw her head back and moan, biting her lip to silence them. Brill focuses her biotics to her fingers, as she had so many times before, letting the energy flow through her fingertips as she thrust in. Aria quickly bends her head down, biting Brill's neck to shut her cries, both their bodies shaking as Aria suddenly orgasms onto Brill's hand, the flare of energy from Brill's fingers just enough to already throw her over the edge. Brill guides Aria through her orgasm, gently thrusting her fingers into Aria's azure until the asari's orgasm fades, Brill's strokes slowing until she removes her hands from Aria's slick embrace.

The pair let themselves relax against the wall, taking a moment to catch their breath. Brill moves first, taking a deep breath and swallowing down the moment that just passed, trying to wipe her fingers clean on her leg, stepping back to let Aria compose herself.

Aria only takes a moment after Brill before she straightens herself, tightening the strap at her waist that Brill had loosened. Her cool steely gaze returning, Brill watches her calmly, observing the Queen's composure return to Aria as she straightens her vest. Aria takes a deep calming breath, letting her body relax before she returns Brill's gaze, the anger and confusion having now vanished, and the Queen of Omega returning to her eyes.

"Nyreen will be wanting a report on the perimeter." Brill states, breaking the silence. Aria nods silently, stepping past Brill to head back to the entrance to the outpost. Brill watches Aria leave, heading back into the outpost to speak to Nyreen. She waits, giving it a second before she follows, to avoid any sort of suspicion, not that there would be any.

Brill stands at the catwalk, her arms folding across her chest, biting the inside of her cheek, shuffling from leg to leg out of boredom and the sheer fact that everything on her own was still…. A sound echoes down the catwalk, drawing Brill's attention, her hand flying to the pistol at her hip. Brill quickly aims down her sights and pops the head of an approaching Cerberus mech. Shit, where there's one, there's sure to be more. Brill takes a retreating step back before she turns and hightails it back into the outpost, ordering the guards to keep an eye on the horizon.

Brill could hear the uproar happening even before she sprinted into the middle of the foyer. The strange feeling around her making her realize she was probably standing outside longer then she had anticipated. What exactly happened? Brill shakes her head, clearing it as she darts closer. "Nyreen! Cerberus is launching another offensive!"

Nyreen casts a stern gaze at Aria, who seems… rather enthusiastic now. "Looks like I'm not the only one who didn't like your little speech, Aria." She retorts, nodding her acknowledgement at Brill. Brill quickly steps back, turning her attention to the main doors.

"Barriers! Now!" Brill waves at an asari Talon. The defenses on the main door consisting of two mounted guns on either end of the door. The asari responds quickly, throwing up a biotic barrier around herself and the fortified gun behind her. Brill quickly darts over to the matching gun, standing beside it as another asari takes up the mantle and puts up a barrier as well.

Brill turns her head, catching Shepard and Aria heading to the side door towards the landing pads. Aria casts an eye over her shoulder, catching Brill's gaze just enough for them to nod to one another before departing. Brill's hands slowly roll into fists, swallowing down the hesitancy she feels as a Talon beside her steps onto the mounted gun. As long as Shepard and Aria fends off Cerberus coming in from the landing dock, the main doors should hold on their own.

It doesn't take long for orders to be passed, Nyreen taking her position beside Brill, her gun at the ready. "Close the inner doors, lets take them out." She places a hand on Brill's shoulder as the place shudders slightly, the door behind them closing and the one in front opening. "Don't do anything reckless." She murmurs.

"Can't exactly tell me to not do something I'm so good at." Brill remarks, the door opening slowly, bending down to see there's already two Atlas mechs waiting from them on the other side.

"You know what I mean." Nyreen replies, sounding only slightly annoyed.

"Same to you." Brill nods. The rest of the Talons around them file forward, the door opens enough for them to file out, quickly taking up shelter at the barricades in front of the door. At the sight of their scrambling forms, the mechs open up, bullets raining in on them. Brill darts forward with them, sliding into place behind a barricade, her pistol snapping into her hand as the bullets soar past her head.

The mounted guns shielded by the biotic barriers open fire, pelting the mechs with fire, the shields on the mech taking most of the impacts before a sheen of blue flickers and sputters. Brill's eyes dart to Nyreen, giving orders behind them to the people mounted on the guns. For now, they can deal with the two Atlas. Brill glances back at the other Talons around her, huddled behind barricades. "Focus fire on the ground units. Let the guns take down the big fucks first." She shouts, popping her head above the cover to demonstrate. With a wave of her hand, biotics flare, grabbing hold of the nearest Cerberus mech and sending them flying to the side, hitting the railing before plummeting to the Omega skyline below.

The rest of the Talons around her follow suit, opening fire as they pop up above their respective cover, peppering Cerberus with fire. Taking down the ground units proves easy enough, the Talons taking down them with ease. Despite their hostile takeover, most of the Cerberus soldiers are basically useless, the ground mechs were always more of the nuisance as wells the Atlases.

In the fray, one of the Atlas mechs fires a rocket at the biotic shields covering the guns, the shield finally shattering at the impact. Brill bit her lip, watching as another rocket takes down the Talons manning the guns, bringing them down a heavy gun. "Fuck." Brill takes a second, glancing next to her at another barricade just a few feet away. With the gun taken down, Nyreen moves up, taking up position with the other Talons surrounding Brill.

With the added cover, Brill quickly tucks and rolls to the barricade next to her. Besides the two heavy guns they had posted at the door, there's one situated on top of a truck. With enough cover, anyone could run up the ladder and take up a position on the gun. Brill clips her gun to her thigh, sliding along the barricade with her head down low towards the truck, her hand resting on the tires as she glances behind her. The two big mechs still raining fire, taking down several Talons in their wake. With most of the Cerberus ground forces gone, fire needs to be focused on them next.

Ignoring the ladder, Brill glances up to the truck platform where the gun is stationed, using her biotics to propel her up and onto the bed. Fire quickly turns to Brill at the sight of movement, but the armor on the heavy gun takes the brunt of the fire as Brill presses her back against the body of the gun. The fire from the mechs quickly stops, just a second as the machinery whirls to reload the machine guns on their arms. Brill takes the advantage, popping up and her hands flying to the controls of the heavy gun as she quickly unloads on the nearest Atlast.

The shielding on the mech having already broken, the bullets from Brill's gun easily shred through the mech's remaining armor, sparks flying from its joints as it starts to combust. Brill looks away only briefly as the Atlas explodes, shrapnel flying and dinging off the heavy gun she stands at. "FUCK YES!" Brill throws up her arms in victory, only for them to quickly lower as the last remaining Atlas unloads its gun on her. "SHIT."

A hand yanks Brill down from the truck bed, pulling her safely behind the truck against its tires. "I said don't get yourself killed!" Brill shakes herself clear, hitting the ground with a thud as she looks up to see Nyreen, quickly hitting her omni-tool.

"Commander Shepard, we need your help at the main doors." Nyreen says, keeping behind cover next to Brill. Even from the sound of railing gunfire, Brill hears Nyreen clearly through the mic in her ear, and the following response.

"We're on our way." Commander Shepard's measured response comes through clear. Brill swallows down a lump in her throat, even from the brief holovids she had seen of the Commander, everyone knew how seasoned the human was, a soldier to death. Nothing compared to the street fights of Omega Brill and grown up with.

A series of rockets from the remaining Atlas steers Brill's thoughts back to the task, her hand flying for her gun on her thigh as the resulting explosion sends a couple Talons flying in the air. Brill quickly stands, putting her arm in front Nyreen, shielding the turian as much as she can with her own smaller body. Her free hand taking fire at a Cerberus trooper hopping over the barricade towards them. A bullet clips him in the shoulder, making him stagger, but the sound of crushing biotics rolling across the ground is what really sends the trooper flying. Brill quickly cocks her head to the side, catching sight of Aria, her body aglow from the biotic shockwave she had just thrown. The Commander following quickly behind Aria, opening fire with their own assault rifle.

The rest of the battle is almost a breeze, the Commander's clean precision easily taking down the remaining Cerberus ground forces and making short work of the remaining Atlas; like watching a master at work. The last Cerberus mech finally going down as Brill lobs her biotics at it, sending it flying over the railing to the skyline below.

"That's it!" Nyreen calls. "Cerberus is pulling out. Let's talk Shepard." She motions Brill over to her side as she kneels next to a downed Talon, checking vitals to see if they're still alive. Brill makes it to Nyreen's side before Shepard does, huffing as she clips her pistol back to her thigh.

As Shepard approaches, Nyreen finally stands, turning to face the commander. "The Talons will join your cause. Someone's got to make sure you don't run roughshod over our people." She states clearly, nodding at Brill who takes a step back, hands folded behind her back, waiting for orders.

Aria steps beside Shepard, looking smug at Nyreen's words. "You see, Shepard?"

Nyreen's eyes narrow at the asari, taking a defensive step back. "Let me guess." She begins, looking to the commander rather than Aria. "She said I was predictable and therefore easy to manipulate." She states, only briefly giving Aria a glare before looking back at Shepard for verification. Brill keeps her mouth shut, not sure whether or not to speak or leave the situation to Nyreen to take care of.

"Pretty much word for word. She thinks she's playing you." Shepard replies, not sounding too surprised.

"Nothing new here." Nyreen adds, rather annoyed, finally, she tilts her head to glare at Aria. "One thing, though: I maintain command over my people. This is not up for debate." She shakes her head for emphasis.

"Just have them ready." Aria replies smugly, almost physically rolling her eyes. Almost.

"Oh, they'll be ready." Nyreen finishes, turning to look at Brill standing behind her and nodding her head towards the main doors. Brill finally takes her cue, walking beside Nyreen as they reenter the outpost together. Brill risks one quick glance behind her, watching Shepard turn to leave, her eyes widening briefly as she locks eyes with Aria. It wasn't so much the exchange between Aria and Nyreen that shook her, but Aria's gaze on Brill now, only a split second before Aria grins and turns to follow Shepard.

Brill snaps her head back, following silently behind Nyreen, her eyes flickering across the ground as she tries to juggle around what's going through Aria's mind, much less what was going through her own. At least it looked like Aria wasn't… upset anymore, but Brill couldn't determine if that was a good or bad thing quite yet.

Hopefully, when the occupation was finally over, she could figure that out.