Battle of Tribute

The was a major engagement during the Human-Covenant War, taking place during the Covenant's invasion of the Epsilon Eridani system.
==Spatial engagement==
==Battle on the ground==
==Aftermath==
==Battle timeline==
August 30, 2552
*05:00: The Covenant , over 300 warships, attacks the Epsilon Eridani Fleet above Reach. Evacuation of civilian transports from Tribute begins.
*07:12: Seven vessels of Battlegroup Swiftsure arrive from Reach and form up alongside the fourteen UNSC Navy vessels already present.
*07:18: 44 vessels are detached from the Fleet of Particular Justice and tasked with eliminating the UNSC presence on Tribute. Unexpected fire from Tribute's ODP, Casbah (ODP-34), destroys two CAS-class assault carriers, after which the Covenant temporarily withdraw beyond its engagement range.
*07:20: UNSC Leander is given permission to break formation and retreat, doing so with almost fifty thousand civilian refugees onboard.
*07:56: The Covenant fleet suddenly charges Tribute after 38 minutes of no activity. Casbah opens fire, destroying a further CAS-class carrier and a CCS-class battlecruiser.
*08:05: The Covenant fleet opens fire, immediately destroying ODP Casbah and UNSC Swiftsure. The UNSC Navy's return fire destroys two CCS-class battlecruisers and damages a further two cruisers. Plasma torpedoes and energy projector fire destroys all UNSC warships except Resurgence, which drifts away severely damaged, and Sheffield, which takes cover behind the wreck of UNSC Swiftsure.
*08:06: Sheffield destroys the two damaged Covenant ships, Ardent Fury and Tenacious Resolve, and two further cruisers, using RCS thrusters to 'pop up' and fire at Covenant vessels and shield herself from their return fire. Sheffield fires two full charges of both her Magnetic Accelerator Cannons, totaling twelve rounds, before she retreats into Tribute's atmosphere.
*08:19: The remaining Covenant vessels descend into Tribute's atmosphere, under heavy anti-air fire from UNSC Army forces.