General Tips?

[Darth Cuda]

Just picked up the game for 400MS. I was wondering if anyone had some helpful tips/strategies for the game. My biggest question is in what order should I buy upgrades? I was buying speed 3 then cannons 3 then armor 3. Then I got owned on Easy challenge 2 only had speed max and first cannon upgrade didn't do any towns (waiting to max ships out). Maybe I need to buy upgrades evenly instead of the way I was?