Editing Battle of Bliss

{{Status|Canon}}
{{References}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev = [[Battle of Alpha Corvi II]]
|conc = 
|next = [[Battle of Harvest]]
|name = Battle of Bliss
|image = [[File:Intersystem News Bliss.jpg|300px]]
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date = [[2526#February|February 13, 2526]]
|place = [[Bliss]]
|result = Covenant victory
*Glassing of Bliss
*Increased cooperation between [[Outer Colonies|Outer Colony]] leaders and [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1 =*[[UNSC Navy]] 
*[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]]
|side2 = [[Covenant fleet]]
|commanders1 = 
|commanders2 = 
|forces1 = Two heavy cruisers
*{{UNSCShip|Weeping Willows}}
*{{UNSCShip|Matador}}
One [[UNSC frigate|frigate]]
*{{UNSCShip|Purpose}} 
One prowler 
*{{UNSCShip|Accra}}
|forces2 = 45 vessels
*5 [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers]]{{Ref/Reuse|DHPJ}}
*17 [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]]{{Ref/Reuse|DHPJ}}
*23 [[Ket-pattern battlecruiser|battlecruisers]]{{Ref/Reuse|DHPJ}}
|casual1 =*Up to 500 million civilians{{Ref/Note|An [[Intersystem News]] article reported that an estimated 500 million people were feared dead after the glassing of Bliss. This contradicts the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' [[data pads]], which state that the total human casualties in the [[Human-Covenant War]] by [[2530]] were 62,154,022. This suggests that the article was exaggerating and extremely inaccurate or that [[the Assembly]] (in the data pads) massively underestimated the casualty numbers, as they had done with the estimates for the Covenant's glassing capabilities.}}
*UNSC ''Weeping Willows''
*UNSC ''Matador''
*UNSC ''Purpose'' 
*UNSC ''Accra''
|casual2 = Unknown
}}
The '''Battle of Bliss''' was a battle fought in orbit above the [[human]] colony of [[Bliss]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. 

==Battle==
On [[2526|February 13, 2526]], [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[UNSC prowler|prowler]] [[UNSC Accra|''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 [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] vessels [[UNSC Weeping Willows|''Weeping Willows'']], [[UNSC Matador|''Matador'']], and [[UNSC Purpose|''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.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref>

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.{{Citation needed}}

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 [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|Slipspace drive]], the fighter ships outstripped the prowler and began firing. Desperately, the ''Accra'' fired twenty escape pods, but the ship was destroyed.{{Citation needed}}

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

Before news of the planet's destruction was presented to the Outer Colony leaders, they laughed at the UNSC's warnings of the Covenant threat, thinking that it 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 realized the UNSC wasn't lying and began negotiating with them. Arguably, if the battle had never happened, the Outer Colonies would probably have joined the UNSC much later, which would have lost them precious time for preparations.{{Citation needed}}

==Participants==
===Ships===
====UNSC====
*{{UNSCShip|Weeping Willows}} 
*{{UNSCShip|Matador}} 
*{{UNSCShip|Purpose}} 
*{{UNSCShip|Accra}} 
====Covenant====
*5 [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers]]{{Ref/Reuse|DHPJ}}
*17 [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]]{{Ref/Reuse|DHPJ}}
*23 [[Ket-pattern battlecruiser|battlecruisers]]<ref name="DHPJ">'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''' "''The Accra Incident''": "''Unknown ships positively identified as alien warships comprising what appear to be five assault carriers, twenty-three battlecruisers, and seventeen destroyers.''"</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{Fm}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

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

{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bliss}}
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Bliss]]
[[Category:Covenant victories|Bliss]]