"Nobody should ask us why we keep them, after that," says the Chief. He has his light uniform, it's a concession that not all parts of life are amenable to a half ton of Mjolnir, but it's still a sore point with him.

"Cortana's not happy, but we've done worse." Well. Probably. The important thing is he's telling Wash he's seen Cortana. And if course he has.

"No deaths in the Silent Horizon, but most of the team came back injured. Kid Q's preparing a debrief." The Chief is trying to be unconcerned here, but it's still there. He should have been there with Cortana. It's not a rational regret, the team on Cargg needed him just as much, but the impulse is there all the same.