Editing Battle of Beta Eridani

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=
|conc=
|next=[[Fall of Reach]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
|image=
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=Before [[2552#July|July 23, 2552]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
|place=[[Beta Eridani system]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
|result='''Covenant victory'''
*Remaining [[human]]s flee system.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
*Covenant later unknowingly locate [[Epsilon Eridani system]], including [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
|side1=*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command]]
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy]]
|side2=*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]
**{{Icon|Covenant HW}} [[Covenant military]]
***[[Covenant fleet]]
|commanders1=*[[Lieutenant|LT]] [[Robinson]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}} {{c|early in battle}}
*[[Vice Admiral|VADM]] [[Michael Stanforth]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}} {{c|late in battle}}
|commanders2=[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
|forces1=*Robinson's forces{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}} {{c|early in battle}}
**1+ {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
**4+ {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
*Stanforth's fleet{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}} {{c|late in battle}}
**1+ {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
**7+ {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
|forces2=*[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
**10+ ships{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
***1 {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
***2+ {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
***7+ {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
|casual1=Unknown
|casual2=Unknown, likely light to none
}}

The '''Battle of Beta Eridani''' was an [[battle|engagement]] in the [[Human-Covenant War]] between the [[Covenant]] and the [[United Nations Space Command]] in the [[Beta Eridani system]], shortly before the [[2552#July|summer of 2552]].{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb1|HFB|Scenario One: Flight!}}

==Background==
[[Rho 'Barutamee]], [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]], was charged with locating [[Forerunner]] artifacts for the [[Covenant]] [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]. To assist in his duties, Covenant leadership granted 'Barutamee the use of a powerful [[Luminary]] to aid in his searches.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=lum|HFB|Detail=Luminaries}} Shortly before the [[2552#July|summer of 2552]], the [[fleet]]'s Luminary detected Forerunner relics located in the [[human]]-occupied [[Beta Eridani system]]. To collect the Forerunner artifacts, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence set course for the Beta Eridani system.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}

Meanwhile, the humans within the system were unaware of the existence of the Forerunner artifacts in the Beta Eridani system. The system was home to the [[Beta Eridani Naval Training Range]], a training facility used by the [[UNSC Navy]] to test the capabilities of cadets on [[warship]]s within the system.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}

==Battle==
When the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] arrived in [[Beta Eridani system|the system]], their presence was quickly discovered by [[Lieutenant]] [[Robinson]] as ten [[Covenant starship|Covenant ships]] of the [[fleet]] were approaching quickly. Although the ensuing battle would likely have been an even fight on most occasions, all [[UNSC starship|warship]]s of the [[UNSC Navy]] in the Beta Eridani system, including a group of one {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} and {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}, and another group of  trio of {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s, were crewed with cadets. With no other viable option, Robinson ordered all forces in the system to flee.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}} 

During the battle, several [[Forerunner]] artifacts were recovered and brought to [[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]] aboard his [[flagship]], ''[[Long Night of Solace]]''. 'Barutamee had the artifacts "processed" through the [[Luminary]] and discovered that the relics pointed to [[Epsilon Eridani system|another system]]. To prevent the [[UNSC]] forces in the system from following him to his next destination, 'Barutamee ordered the destruction of all remaining [[human]] forces in Beta Eridani. By this time, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] took part of the battle of Beta Eridani and had led at least two [[battle group]]s against at least one portion of the [[Covenant fleet]], with one comprised of a {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} and trio of {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s, and the other comprised of 4 ''Paris''-class frigates.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=fb2|HFB|Scenario Two: Contact}}

==Aftermath==
Sometime after the battle, the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] traveled to the system pinpointed by the [[Luminary]]: the [[Epsilon Eridani system]]. Unbeknownst to [[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]], the system was home to major strongholds of the [[United Nations Space Command]], including [[Reach]]. 'Barutamee initiated the [[Fall of Reach|invasion]] of Reach, which ultimately led to the planet's fall on [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]], though 'Barutamee was presumably killed and most of his fleet was destroyed on [[2552#August|August 14, 2552]].{{Ref/Site|Id=Rho|D=08|M=11|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/rho-barutamee|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Rho Barutamee}}{{Ref/Level|Id=hr solace|HR|Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace}}

==Participants==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
===UNSC===
===Naval assets===
====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[UNSC Navy]]
|[[Lieutenant]]
|[[Robinson]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
|Unknown
|-
|[[Vice Admiral]]
|[[Michael Stanforth]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb2}}
|Survived
|}
{{Col-2}}

===Covenant===
===Naval assets===
====Starships====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Fleet
! Class
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
|{{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}
|''[[Long Night of Solace]]''{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
|Survived
|}

====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]
|[[Supreme Commander]]
|[[Rho 'Barutamee]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
|Survived
|}
{{Col-end}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Human-Covenant War}}

[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Beta Eridani]]
[[Category:Covenant victories|Beta Eridani]]