Battle of Bliss

The Battle of Bliss was a battle fought in orbit above the human colony of Bliss during the Human-Covenant War.

The battle
On February 13, 2526, ONI prowler Accra was conducting a survey above the planet's surface, when it detected 45 Covenant ships entering the system 18,537 miles away from the planet. The UNSC vessels Weeping Willows, Matador, and Purpose engaged the Covenant ships as they got to Bliss' moon, Aires, while Bliss began a planet-wide evacuation. In just one short minute, the UNSC picketing ships were destroyed.

While the Accra moved to a safer distance for observation, the Covenant ships quickly moved into position. While the carriers remained in high orbit above the planet, the battleships all moved in a unique geometric pattern above the planet's surface. The ships fired their plasma weapons and began glassing the planet.

Unfortunately, the Accra was discovered by Covenant probes and the carriers released fighter craft to engage the prowler. Although it attempted to speed up and activate its Slipspace drive, the fighter ships outstripped the prowler and began firing. Desperately, the Accra fired twenty escape pods, but the ship was destroyed.

Aftermath
It was assumed that all citizens on Bliss died before they could evacuate. The Covenant ships finished up glassing the planet and left just as quickly as they came. The arrived after the battle and recovered the data logs of the Accra in its last moments, which revealed the entire battle.

Before news of the planet's destruction was presented to the Outer Colony leaders, they laughed to the UNSC's warnings of the Covenant threat, thinking that this was just ONI propaganda and an attempt to fool them to submit to UNSC rule. However, when the Accra log became publicized, the Outer Colonies sobered up and began negotiating with the UNSC. Arguably, if the battle never happened, then the Outer Colonies would have joined the UNSC much later, which probably would lose them precious time to prepare.

UNSC

 * UNSC Weeping Willows
 * UNSC Matador
 * UNSC Purpose
 * UNSC Accra

Covenant

 * 5 carriers
 * 23 destroyers
 * 17 cruisers

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach
 * Dr. Halsey's personal journal