Fall of Gliese 581

The Fall of Gliese 581 was a battle in the Human-Covenant War. It resulted in a Covenant victory, although UNSC Battlegroup Hades bought enough time for much of the system's population to be evacuated to safety.

History
On May 22nd 2545, a Covenant Navy Invasion Fleet jumped into the system. UNSC Battlegroup Hades, who were stationed in the system engaged the Covenant in battle. UNSC Amsterdam and UNSC Brussels were key to the UNSC Navy's victory.

The Covenant Navy retreated to the far side of Gliese 581d, one of the two habitable planets in the system. An invasion force was launched, landing in the New Canada region, and the Covenant then fell back to the far side of the uninhabited Gliese 581b. Battlegroup Hades remained close to Gliese 581d as evacuation began.

The UNSC Army garrison on Gliese 581d engaged in battle with the Covenant invasion force, and initially kept them contained to their landing grounds. However, after eleven days of heated ground combat, the Covenant broke out of the landing grounds and marched on the nearest major city, New Toronto.

Reinforcements were flown over from the other habitable planet in the system, Gliese 581g. With the reinforcements available, the UNSC Army was able to defend New Toronto while evacuation completed. However, while the UNSC's focus was on New Toronto, a surprise attack on New Ottawa by the Covenant slaughtered the city's population.

The UNSC Army then moved to New Quebec, the final population centre in the region. Once the evacuation was complete, the UNSC Army left the region by air. As New Canada was an island, the Covenant invasion force was unable to leave the area due to UNSC air superiority. UNSC Brussels entered the planet's atmosphere and bombarded the Covenant forces from above.

On August 29th 2545, a large Covenant Fleet arrived, almost three times the size of the original fleet. UNSC Amsterdam was heavily damaged, and Battlegroup Hades retreated. Much of the UNSC Army was unable to be evacuated in time, and they were glassed.