Editing Fernando Esparza

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Human
|name=Fernando Esparza
|image={{Pageimage|HINF Ending Pilot.png}}[[File:HINF Pilot Render.png|225px]]
|homeworld=[[Charybdis IX]]{{Ref/Book|Id=EN|Enc22|Page=91}}
|birth=[[2518#May|May 7, 2518]]{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|death=
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=[[Esparza family|Alitza Esparza]]
|children=[[Esparza family|Iahlee Esparza]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD1|EOD|Chapter=1}}
|species=[[Human]]{{Ref/Quest|Id=wg|HI|Ringfall|Warship Gbraakon}}
|gender=Male{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}
|height={{Convert|180.3|cm|ftin|dis=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|mass={{Convert|86.2|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|hair=Dark brown{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}
|eyes=Brown{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|rank=Civilian contractor{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|sn=CC-434323{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|no=four|1=Fernando Esparza|q1=I'm not you. I'm not a pilot. I'm not even a soldier, a marine! I'm a fraud. I stole that Pelican. I stole it! You know why? Of course you don't. Have you ever been scared? So scared that you... I'm worthless. You should leave me here with the rest of the garbage.|2=John-117|q2=We all fail. We all make mistakes. It's what makes us human.|3=Fernando Esparza|q3=I'm sorry, Chief. But how have you ever failed?|4=John-117|q4=I should have protected Cortana. Stopped everything from going wrong. I failed her. I will not fail you.|5=Fernando Esparza's despondent outburst being met with John-117 revealing his failures.{{Ref/Reuse|pdown}}}}
'''Fernando Esparza''', nicknamed '''Echo 216''' after [[Echo 216|the Pelican with the eponymous designation]],{{Ref/Reuse|hor}} or simply '''The Pilot''', is a [[civilian]] contractor who worked in engineering on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}{{Ref/Quest|Id=sequence|HINF|Reformation (Halo Infinite)|The Sequence}}

==Biography==
===Early life===
Fernando Esparza was born on [[Charybdis IX]] on [[2518#May|May 7, 2518]].{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} He has a wife and a young daughter, [[Esparza family|Iahlee Esparza]].{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}{{Ref/Note|Despite their prominent appearances in ''[[Discover Hope]]'' and the opening cinematic of the retail version of ''Halo Infinite'', the mother and daughter in Esparza's holorecorder were not mentioned by Esparza when the Weapon asked him whether he had any family or close ones in the level [[The Sequence]]. Based on his response (''"No... not anymore."''), it is possible they were killed at some point before May 2560.}} Esparza and his wife could not decide on their daughter's name until the day she was born.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD1}} Alitza's father operated a family-owned cantina and suggested that Esparza come work there, but Esparza instead aspired to be an engineer and eventually chose to volunteer with the [[UNSC]] as a civilian contractor.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD27}}

Although the [[Esparza family]] survived humanity's war with the [[Covenant]], the emergence of [[Cortana]] and her faction, the [[Created]], brought [[H5G:Guardians|Guardians]] to the family's homeworld in late [[2558]]. Esparza feared that his family was gone for good when the planet-killers subdued [[Earth]]'s colonies, but remained hopeful that his wife and daughter miraculously survived.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EODPrologue|EOD|Chapter=Prologue}}

===Battle for Zeta Halo===
====Escaping ''Infinity''====
On [[2559#December|December 12, 2559]], Esparza was onboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} when it was [[Battle over Installation 07|ambushed]] by [[Banished]] forces upon arrival at [[Installation 07]].{{Ref/Game|Id=ia4|HI|HINF:Audio log#Infinity's Approach 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Infinity's Approach #04 - Arrival}} Upon hearing that Master Chief [[John-117]] was defeated, Esparza panicked and fled for [[Pelican]] ''[[Echo 216]]'',{{Ref/Reuse|sequence}} commandeering the craft and leaving the ''Infinity'' alone instead of trying to fill the dropship's troop bay with other evacuating personnel.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD2|EOD|Chapter=2}} When looking back on it later, Esparza could not remember seeing anyone else in the [[hangar bay]], but he could not be certain, and he deeply regretted not doing more to save others.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD17|EOD|Chapter=17}} After fleeing the ''Infinity'' aboard ''Echo 216'', he became stranded.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}{{Ref/Quest|Id=pdown|HI|Graveyards|[[Pelican Down (Halo Infinite level)|Pelican Down]]}} During his time adrift, Esparza left numerous personal audio messages for his wife inside ''Echo 216'',{{Ref/Reuse|EODPrologue}} while using the message on a [[holorecorder]] from an unknown serviceman's wife and daughter for comfort as it reminded him of his own family.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD2}}

====Finding Master Chief====
{{Main|Battle for Zeta Halo}}
{{Quote|How long has it been since I met you? Six hours? Maybe seven. It's been... eventful. Six months on my own, surviving... barely. Seems like a dream now. This on the other hand... mostly feels like a nightmare. Mostly.|Esparza recounts his time at Zeta Halo to John-117.{{Ref/Reuse|sequence}}}}
After being stranded in the [[dropship]] for six months, in [[2560#May|May 2560]],{{Ref/Generic|Id=Premiere|[[Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere]]}} he came across John-117 around the shattered remains of the [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 07|ring]]; the Spartan's armor had triggered survival mode, keeping him alive all that time. Esparza brought John-117 onboard ''Echo 216'' and rerouted the Pelican's power to the Spartan's armor, awakening the Chief. Their introduction was brief, with Esparza revealing to the Master Chief that it's been nearly six months since the initial battle with the Banished over the ring. Then, without warning, ''Echo 216'' was hit by the ''[[Ghost of Gbraakon]]''{{'}}s stasis beam; Esparza began to panic, but the Chief was resolved to fight, leaving the Pelican to infiltrate the warship. While Esparza recharged the Pelican's batteries, the Chief made his way to the dreadnought's bridge to shut down its stasis beam. However, the system was locked down, so the Spartan opted to scuttle the ship instead. Chief and ''Echo 216'' narrowly escaped the dreadnought's destruction; Esparza piloted the dropship to pickup the Spartan shortly afterwards.{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}

====Fighting Escharum's Banished====
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, the Weapon directed the two to another UNSC signal coming from [[Tower|a nearby Banished outpost]] much to Esparza's dismay. {{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|HINF|Lockdown (Halo Infinite)|Recovery}}{{Ref/Quest|HINF|Lockdown (Halo Infinite)|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]]}}

[[File:HINF Pelican Down J117 Esparza.png|thumb|300px|John-117 empathizes with Esparza.]]
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. Esparza was 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, and instructed Esparza to remain with the Pelican. Doubtful that he would be safe on his own, Esparza protested. Instead, he stated 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 hid underneath a Condor's floor hatch until the Spartan defeated the Spartan Killers. Reunited, Esparza broke down, revealing he had stolen ''Echo 216'', and called himself worthless in comparison to the 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}}

Esparza then piloted ''Echo 216'' to the Command Spire, dropping off John-117 to access its interior.{{Ref/Reuse|sequence}} Later, while en route to pick up the Chief and the Weapon, Esparza was kidnapped by [[Blademaster]] [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] and taken to the [[House of Reckoning (location)|House of Reckoning]],{{Ref/Quest|Id=commandspire|HINF|Reformation (Halo Infinite)|The Command Spire}} where he was tortured by [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]] in order to lure John-117 into a final confrontation.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}{{Ref/Quest|Id=repository|HINF|Reckoning (Halo Infinite)|Repository}} John-117 stormed the stronghold, defeating both 'Rdomnai and Escharum, thereby rescuing Esparza. Esparza was shocked when John-117 showed respect to the fallen Escharum, who he called a monster. John-117 replied that, in the end, Escharum was just a soldier who had died hoping that he had done the right thing.{{Ref/Quest|Id=hor|HINF|Reckoning (Halo Infinite)|House of Reckoning}} They retrieved ''Echo 216'', which Esparza flew to the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]] to drop off the Chief to confront the [[Harbinger]].{{Ref/Quest|Id=sa|HINF|Endless (Halo Infinite)|Silent Auditorium}}

====Post-Harbinger====
During the next three days, Esparza searched for the Master Chief and the Weapon and resumed his practice of leaving personal audio messages for his wife which he had neglected to do after meeting the legendary Spartan. Although almost certain that his family were gone, Esparza vowed to survive and return home to see for himself, whatever it took.{{Ref/Reuse|EODPrologue}} Esparza found ''[[FFG-611]]'', a wrecked {{Class|Mulsanne|light frigate}}, and made a home out of it, using his skills as an engineer to make the wreck partially habitable. Esparza dubbed the ship the UNSC ''Casa del Esparza''.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD2}}

Esparza later picked up the Chief and the Weapon three days after the defeat of the Harbinger. He expressed relief upon seeing them, thinking that they'd been killed, and greeted the Chief with a hug. Prompted by the Weapon, Esparza, who had only been known as ''Echo 216'' until then, revealed his real name to the pair. The trio then flew off in their Pelican, ready to defeat the remainder of the Banished on the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|sa}} Esparza flew them to ''FFG-611'' where the Chief returned the holorecorder to Esparza who believed that his traumatic experiences were retribution for fleeing from the ''Infinity'' when the Banished attacked.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD2}}

On June 4, ''Echo 216'' combed the debris field for munitions, particularly an [[Eris tactical nuclear weapon]], while playing cat and mouse with Banished patrols. Some of the recovered munitions were stored on the Pelican while the rest were kept on the wrecked frigate. It then delivered the Master Chief and Joy to one of the island fragments to enact their plan to wipe out the Banished's upper echelon Escharum's funeral.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD4|EOD|Chapter=4}}

On June 5, Esparza picked the Master Chief up after the successful mission and they followed Joy—in an [[Aggressor Sentinel]] carapace—as she tracked 'Rdomnai's Phantom to [[Rdomnai Keep]]. ''Echo 216'' dropped the Master Chief off at the base of a mountain peak and stayed on station to wait for the Spartan's return.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD8|EOD|Chapter=8}} After the Master Chief got outside with [[Lucas Browning]], Joy called Esparza for pickup, but he warned her that Banished were incoming and Esparza wasn't sure how long he could stay once he got there. In response, Joy sent a Sentinel to help him. The Sentinel helped ward off the Banshees, but ''Echo 216'' took a hit to the port side from a freshly arriving Banshee. The Chief jumped into the Pelican with Browning as the Sentinels, at the cost of their own destruction, took down the last Banshee.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD12|EOD|Chapter=12}} With the engines having sustained damage, the Chief plugged Joy into ''Echo 216'' who determined that the port fusion drive was inoperable, secondary was at fifty percent and falling and primary stabilizers were down, leaving the Pelican without sixty percent of its thrust capacity. Joy managed to reroute enough for ''Echo 216'' to land in a shadowy fissure on a landmass thirty kilometers away.

With Browning's injuries making changing difficult, Esparza stepped in to help him while the Chief and Joy spent the night conducting repairs. Together, the two managed to get the stabilizer system back online by rerouting power from both secondary engines. While it wouldn't last long, Joy hoped that it would be enough to get the Pelican somewhere safer.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD13|EOD|Chapter=13}} As five Banshees closed in on their position, the Master Chief made a stand to free up airspace for ''Echo 216'' to escape, receiving unexpected help from Spartan [[Tomas Horvath]] who hijacked the last Banshee. Esparza was amazed to see another Spartan and stayed silent through the conversation that followed.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD14|EOD|Chapter=14}}

Horvath subsequently lured eight enemy aircraft away using his captured Banshee, clearing the way for ''Echo 216'' to safely take off.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD15|EOD|Chapter=15}} While the engines sounded terrible, Joy was sure that they'd hold and she directed Esparza to take them to [[Lifeworker Central]] which was clear of the ring's fracture on its stable segment and close enough for the Pelican to touch down before the stabilizers and engines gave out.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD16|EOD|Chapter=16}} Esparza was relieved to be flying away from Banished territory rather than towards it for a change and was surprised to find a very old human settlement. Joy explained to Esparza that humanity was a hundred thousand years older than he knew and humanity's current civilization had simply rediscovered the [[Halo Array]]. Esparza landed the Pelican in a clearing three kilometers from Lifeworker Central and reluctantly agreed to accompany the others rather than staying with ''Echo 216''. Passing through the jungle reminded Esparza of his daughter and how many missed opportunities came from his own phobias. Joy told Esparza that Zeta Halo had a long history of human settlements with the people calling themselves the [[Tudejsa]]. However, the [[Flood]] and some Forerunners' desire to use the Tudejsa in experiments to study the Flood led to [[Battle for Gyre 11|a civil war]] on the ring. Near a building, Esparza noticed human sounds, but Browning warned him that it may not be friendlies as the Banished had humans amongst their ranks. Although Esparza already knew that, the idea of humans working with the Banished was hard for him to wrap his head around.

Leaving Esparza with Browning, the Master Chief left to check it out. Browning told Esparza about how he had encountered a Banished [[The Inspector|human inspector]]. Esparza was horrified that a human could do such a thing and considered the inspector to be a traitor and a monster. Browning revealed that using a human inspector had been a form of psychological warfare by Escharum. Esparza expressed his amazement at Browning's courage in drawing the Banished away from his friends, making Esparza realize how self-absorbed he'd been to feel sorry for himself. Esparza came to the conclusion that he'd been one of the "worst enemy" humans that Browning spoke of, albeit to a different degree than the inspector, because if he'd taken the time to look around the hanger bay rather than just fleeing, Esparza could've found others to join him. The two men bonded over their respective ordeals and experiences, particularly in the hands of 'Rdomani. The revelation of a shared experience seemed to offer comfort to the young medic. Noticing Esparza's continuing pain, Browning diagnosed him with a cracked rib or two at the very least from the effects of the torture machine. Esparza noticed that while Browning projected a willingness to "sort it all out," there was a hollowness and detachment to every obliging word and smile, as if Browning was on autopilot, projecting the shadow of the amiable personality that once defined him while in reality Browning seemed shut down. Worried about him, Esparza started cracking bad jokes to try to cheer Browning up.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD17}}

Discovering that the sounds were from two ODSTs, [[Gainey]] and [[Hightower]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD18|EOD|Chapter=18}} the Master Chief retrieved Esparza and Browning and took them to a large UNSC encampment at Lifeworker Central.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD19|EOD|Chapter=19}} At the field hospital, the Master Chief asked Dr. [[Shoff]] to check Esparza out too over his objections.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD20|EOD|Chapter=20}} Esparza was treated by medic [[Janina Yu]] for internal bruising, two rib fractures and a partially collapsed lung. The medical staff aspirated the excess air in his chest wall, but Esparza would continue to have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath for awhile.

With Banished activity gathering on the perimeter of the camp, the Master Chief decided to take Joy, Browning and ''Echo 216'' to continue their mission without continuing to endanger the other survivors. Esparza collected what they needed to resupply the Pelican and refused the Master Chief's offer to stay at the camp. While the thought of being separated from the Spartan was clearly horrifying for the man, Esparza saw helping the Master Chief as the way he could work his way back from his mistake. The Chief knew that whether Esparza believed it or not, he had already helped tremendously and while the Spartan had dragged Esparza to the surface of the ring, despite his fear, the pilot had been there each and every time rather than running, no matter how much he complained about it. The Master Chief accepted Esparza's help, a choice that Joy also agreed with.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD22|EOD|Chapter=22}}

Esparza flew the Master Chief, Joy and Browning to the [[Lifeworker Archive]] which turned out to be underground in a watershed, arriving when it was fully dark. To both Esparza and the Master Chief's confusion, neither the dropship's lidar nor the lidar in the Spartan's armor picked it up. The Master Chief ordered Esparza to shut off all non-essential systems to avoid detection, and to retreat and lie low at the first sign of trouble. If that were to happen, Esparza was given a rendezvous point where they would meet in twenty-four hours. Esparza gave Browning encouragement as he walked on his own for the first time since Browning's rescue. Giving the pilot a stack of [[C10 charge]]s, the Master Chief ordered him to blow up the Archive entrance if he could if things went bad and the Banished discovered their position. Before the Master Chief, Joy and Browning left, Esparza packed a bag with enough rations, nutrient supplements, a few extra ammo clips and grenades for good measure to last Browning forty-eight hours. Esparza reminded the Master Chief that Browning wasn't like the Spartan and Joy, and they needed to make sure that the medic ate and drank. Able to go long periods of time without needing nourishment, the Spartan was grateful for Esparza's thoughtfulness.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD23|EOD|Chapter=23}}

On June 7, ''Echo 216'' came under attack by a Banished Phantom, only to have it shot down by a friendly missile. The C10 that Esparza had planted detonated, and a fragment struck the beleaguered port engines, causing the Pelican to lose power. Rapidly losing altitude, Esparza was forced to bring ''Echo 216'' in for a rough landing. As Esparza regained consciousness, the Pelican was boarded by four [[Sangheili]] who made hasty repairs to the flight systems, quickly getting ''Echo 216'' in the air again. However, the Sangheili turned out to be [[Swords of Sanghelios]] who had been on the ''Infinity'' when it was ambushed instead of Banished.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD27|EOD|Chapter=27}} The Sangheili flew the damaged Pelican into the alpine region of one of the island fragments where Esparza was greeted by a group of UNSC soldiers and survivors, including the [[boat crew]], in a sheltered rock canyon.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD39|EOD|Chapter=39}}

Later, Esparza surprised the Master Chief by coming to his rescue in what appeared to be a Banished Phantom, joined by the four Swords of Sanghelios warriors. At first elated to see the Spartan, Esparza was devastated to see him carrying the dying Browning.{{Ref/Novel|EOD|Chapter=37}} Esparza sat in the troop bay with the Master Chief and Joyeuse on the flight back while [['Kor]] flew the Phantom instead. The next day, Esparza attended Browning's funeral at Lifeworker Central, wracked with grief, guilt and anger at the young medic's fate and their inability to save his life, something that the Master Chief and the AI shared. The three friends stood together at Browning's grave with Esparza choosing not to give any words of comfort, knowing that it wouldn't help them yet.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD39}}

On June 12, Esparza was amongst those present when Dr. [[Genie Dawson]] revealed that her team had found large groups of UNSC survivors in several areas. Esparza immediately volunteered for search and rescue efforts along with everyone else present.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD42|EOD|Chapter=42}}

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|I'll be safe? Safe?! I haven't been "safe" since I found you! I found you, remember? You were out there on your own and you'd still be out there if it wasn't for me! I thought I was going home!|Esparza frustrated with the Master Chief after their Pelican was shot down by anti-air cannons.}}
Esparza is an emotive person, often showing his excitement,{{Ref/Site|Id=WHI19SGB|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/29568daf8cd14083bd1b70a810bf3581/topics/halo-infinite-2019---screenshots-gifs-banners/04726fbf-c484-42da-a99e-7b4e2e3b8790/posts|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo Infinite 2019 - Screenshots, GIFs, Banners!|D=30|M=10|Y=2019}} despair,{{Ref/Reuse|pdown}} and frustrations.{{Ref/Reuse|foundation}} Esparza cares deeply for his wife and daughter, both of whom he missed terribly during the prolonged period of isolation he experienced aboard his Pelican. Even then, at the lowest point in his life, he demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Despite being out of food and water, and being cold, isolated, over-exerted, and trapped, he did not give up. When he eventually discovered the Master Chief, he felt relief and triumph.{{Ref/Reuse|wg}} His patience is not unwavering, however. He can be seen snapping at the Master Chief multiple times, irritated that his and the Spartan's motivations do not align.{{Ref/Reuse|foundation}}{{Ref/Reuse|pdown}}

After the two bonded over their mistakes, Esparza learned to forgive himself for abandoning the UNSC and stealing ''Echo 216''. He then held a more positive outlook in their situation, having learned to rely on the Chief and the Weapon to function as a team.{{Ref/Site|Id=DCHI|URL=https://danchosich.com/haloinfinite|Site=Dan Chosich|Page=Halo Infinite|D=07|M=11|Y=2020}} The closeness was especially highlighted when the Chief and the Weapon stormed the House of Reckoning to rescue Esparza despite overwhelming odds;{{Ref/Reuse|hor}} in turn, Esparza refused to give up and searched for the two after they disappeared when the Silent Auditorium collapsed.{{Ref/Reuse|sa}}{{Ref/Reuse|DCHI}} Sharing experiences with [[Lucas Browning]] caused Esparza to realize how self-absorbed he'd been{{Ref/Reuse|EOD17}} and Esparza committed himself even more to helping the Spartan, begging to continue working with the Master Chief to make up for his mistakes rather than remaining behind with other UNSC survivors when given the chance. In turn, the Master Chief acknowledged that whether he believed it or not, Esparza had been tremendously helpful, being there every single time despite his fear rather than running away.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD22}} Esparza was equally devastated as his friends by Browning's death and didn't offer words of comfort as he knew that they wouldn't help his friends at the moment.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD39}} Esparza was also one of the first to volunteer his services for search and rescue for other UNSC survivors.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD42}}

==Production notes==
[[File:Nic.jpg|thumb|300px|Nicolas Roye performing motion capture for Esparza.{{Ref/Reuse|DCHIDH}}]]
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