Emerald Cove was a very beautiful world when it was still a part of UNSC/UEG Space. In 2542, the UNSC abandoned Emerald Cove to the Covenant due to the danger from the Covenant. There is no information on whether or not there was any combat in the abandonment and/or evacuation. The planet may have been glassed but was likely not even located by the Covenant due to no human presence.