The First Defense
An unknown invasion fleet descends on Earth 3 and cuts through the capital before its defense network can stabilize. Carter launches in the S.S. Freedom to hold evacuation routes and follow the force directing the assault. The battlefield changes continuously beneath him: an intact blue-lit city grid gives way to exposed mountain relays, open water, and settlements already reduced to cratered roads and broken towers.
Stages I–II — City to Mountains
Earth Stage 1 moves above dense futuristic blocks, broad intersections, landing structures, blue infrastructure lights, and surviving planted corridors. Earth Stage 2 strips away that shelter. The route crosses steep dark ridges and sparse highland vegetation, forcing the Freedom to fight over exposed terrain while the invasion advances away from the capital.
Stages III–IV — Ocean to Ruined Frontier
Earth Stage 3 opens over dark blue water with no buildings to break the firing lanes. Earth Stage 4 returns to land after the attack has passed through it: shattered structures, damaged roads, impact craters, embers, and isolated patches of living green. The final Mothership is not the whole invasion, but destroying it yields the signal that points the pursuit toward Moon 2.
