Sanctuary – “Crimson Tide” [Campaign 4 – Mission 3]

What's the point, I took it. It's like, "Controls 1 out of 4 settlements." And at that moment, the Undead Assault sends 2 squads. I teleport Irina to the starting town because there's an empty Thangbo, and he's about to be overwhelmed. Irina, of course, defeats this squad of necromancers. And at the same time, the second necromancer squad quickly moves to the left town, takes it, defeating the orc who joined them at level 18, and game over – that's the 4th town... She doesn't have time to get back there.
I don't understand what the optimal order of playing this map is at the beginning. Maybe it's better to go north instead of west? And then, can you ignore the starting town, since it's not on the list of quest towns? Anyway, I'll have to replay it. :-(