Editing Fernando Esparza

Esparza then reluctantly followed John-117's instruction to bring the Pelican to the subterranean section at the damaged portion of the ring. There, the Chief jumped out, in search of a UNSC signal.{{Ref/Quest|Id=foundation|HI|Ringfall|[[Foundation (Halo Infinite)|Foundation]]}} The Spartan eventually emerged from the ring's surface, clearing out the garrison and landing pad at [[Outpost Tremonius (location)|Outpost Tremonius]] for ''Echo 216'' to land. Initially, Esparza was ecstatic to be on the ground, but was terrified when he was introduced to [[the Weapon]]—the source of the UNSC signal—who he mistook as [[Cortana]]. After John-117 clarified that Cortana was no longer a threat, to Esparza's dismay, the Weapon directed the two to another UNSC signal coming from [[Tower|a nearby Banished outpost]].{{Ref/Quest|HI|Ringfall|Outpost Tremonius}} Esparza piloted ''Echo 216'' to its vicinity, where John-117 launched a one-man assault on the outpost.{{Ref/Quest|HI|Lockdown|Recovery}}{{Ref/Quest|HI|Lockdown|The Tower}} The Chief was then led to [[Site Novem|a Banished excavation site]] into the [[Conservatory (location)|Conservatory]], leaving Esparza waiting onboard ''Echo 216''.{{Ref/Quest|HI|Connections|Excavation Site}}{{Ref/Quest|HI|Connections|Conservatory}} Esparza flew ''Echo 216'' to extract the Chief when his mission led him to the destruction of a [[Reformation Spire]]; the Spartan jumped out of the collapsing Spire, forcing Esparza to bring the Pelican to a nosedive to catch the Chief in the Pelican's troop bay.{{Ref/Quest|Id=spire|HI|Connections|[[Spire (Halo Infinite level)|Spire]]}}

While ''Echo 216'' made its way to the next objective, it was shot several times by [[Kywasky Workshop Gorespike cannon|anti-aircraft cannon]]s, forcing Esparza to make an emergency landing in a shallow stream. The final impact which stopped the dropship's forward momentum knocked Esparza briefly unconscious, but when he came to panic and disbelief seized him immediately. John-117 attempted to calm him but with little success; instead, he was berated by Esparza for putting them both in their present predicament. The Spartan decided he needed to eliminate the cannons, of which he'd counted three, and instructed Esparza to remain put with the Pelican until he returned. Doubtful that he would be safe on his own, Esparza protested this. Before hitting the ground he'd spotted a number of [[Condor]]s and was determined to check whether any of them retained a working [[slipspace drive]] which they could use to flee the system. John-117 agreed to help him with such a search, but only after he'd first dealt with the cannons. Esparza waited at the Pelican as he was instructed, until all three cannons were taken offline. He set out on his own to search the remains of the three Condors, but was distraught to find none had an intact slipspace drive. With the [[Hand of Atriox]] deployed nearby, Esparza hidden underneath a Condor's floor hatch until the Spartan defeated the Spartan Killers and rescued Esparza. Esparza broke down, revealing he had stolen ''Echo 216'', and called himself worthless in comparison to the fearless Master Chief. The Chief, in turn, revealed he also has made mistakes, citing his failure to protect Cortana and preventing her turn to being the [[Created]]'s [[Archon|leader]]. The Chief declared he would not fail Esparza, leaving the latter resolved to support the Spartan.{{Ref/Reuse|pdown}}