When Cortana spoke it was as if the AI felt that she had to justify what had transpired. "We did what we had to do-for Earth. An entire Covenant armada obliterated. And the Flood-we had no choice. Halo, it's finished."
"No," the Chief replied, settling in behind the Longsword's controls. "The Covenant are still out there, and Earth is at risk. We're just getting started."
Halo: The flood