User blog comment:The Milkman/The Writing of the Ending/@comment-123.2.70.12-20120530045707/@comment-4950455-20120530104613

I saw the idea somewhere that the Normandy had been sent out to carry a warning - either that the allied fleets were losing or that the Crucible was about to fire. It's not perfect, but I think it makes for a decent handwave - I'm hoping the Extended Cut goes for something like this.

I do think a bit of relief is understandable - your crew just outran/survived the explosion and crash. I'd be relieved too, at least as an initial reaction.