First, get the SMART missiles, then upgrade allies, canons and shields as high as possible, u can upgrade other things like engines but don't focus too much on them... The easiest way get ether and make destroy the red orb is after you've upgraded the Smart missiles, canons, and shields a little bit, get closer to the red orb and keep destroying the enemies it produces and also keep shooting at the orange orbs..
 "Great Dungeon in the Sky"){kind=icon}
 "Ether War"){kind=icon}
 "Infectonator : World Dominator"){kind=icon}
 "Plazma Burst: Forward to the past"){kind=icon}
 "Little Wheel"){kind=icon}
 "UPGRADE COMPLETE!"){kind=icon}
 "The Fancy Pants Adventures"){kind=icon}