Epsilon Eridani (Earth-5875)

Epsilon Eridani (sometimes rendered ε Eridani) is a planetary system located 10.5 light-years from Earth. Home to many colonies of the Unified Earth Government, it also housed the most important of them all, Reach. The system is one of the closest neighbors of the Sol system, and was invaded by the Covenant in the summer of 2552, attacking most of its colonies.

History
Observation of the Epsilon Eridani system date back to the early 21st century, after it was deducted the system possessed both an inner and outer rocky and icy asteroid belt, alongside at least three planets: a gas giant the size of Jupiter and possibly two terrestrial planets. It was quickly recognized as a possible source of life and inhabitable planets, which could propel space colonization efforts in the future. However, colonization efforts proved to be challenging because of the political and economic climate and uneasiness. Tribute and Circumstance were the first to catch interest in potential colonization, however, Reach turned to catch the attention of the Unified Earth Government in the late 22nd century.

Reach would be colonized by the colony ship Odyssey following the discovery of element zero and slipspace travel in 2292, becoming the first ship to colonize the system in its entirety. Tribute was the next planet to be colonized on August 8th, 2292. By the late 25th century, the whole system became home to the majority of the UNSC's biggest bases, including Reach itself, and protected by the UNSC Epsilon Eridani Fleet.

The system thrived under humanity for the next two hundred years, until the Fall of Reach in mid-2552, with the Covenant taking control of the systems and glassing the planets where they found humans. By 2553, however, with the fall of the Covenant and the aid of the Swords of Sanghelios, the system was reclaimed by the UEG, with Tribute, still devastated by the Covenant invasion, becoming one of the main sources of power for the dwindling empire of the UEG and its UNSC in the post-war period.

Locations

 * Reach
 * Csodaszarvas
 * Turul
 * Tribute
 * Emese
 * Beta Gabriel
 * Circumstance
 * Tantalus