Tribute was a UNSC colony world in the Epsilon Eridani System. Its largest populated urbanized metropolis was Casbah[1].
It had a history of volcanic activity and appeared to be a cold world. It was one of the major focus points of Operation: TREBUCHET in 2524, where UNSC forces operated against the rebel bomb cells. At least one Battalion of UNSC Marines were involved with ongoing operations on the planet, supported by the UNSC Bum Rush and flights of Hornets.
One of the missions involved Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson and Staff Sergeant Nolan Byrne leading two squads of Marines after rebel bomb makers. Three members of Byrne's team were killed in a Jim Dandy restaurant when one of the female rebels detonated a bomb during a hostage situation, also killing 38 civilians. Byrne and Johnson were both injured in the incident, Johnson slightly and Byrne critically[2].
After the Covenant glassed Reach, they also attacked the other colonies in the system, including Tribute. Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles was present during the evacuation of the colony, and witnessed the near total destruction of the UNSC Navy escort fleet in orbit as they protected civilian refugees.[3] This gave him a thorough respect for the Navy, unlike many Marines or other ODSTs.
The colony was apparently under siege for some time. This is evidenced by Spartan Team: Black's mission to destroy a Covenant "Beacon" that was mining helium-3 to provide fuel for the fleet attacking Tribute.
Sources
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, Page 14
- ^ Halo: Contact harvest, Page 9
- ^ Halo 3: ODST, "Dutch" Firefight Character Profile