diff --git a/_miz/SPEARHEADDEV.miz b/_miz/SPEARHEADDEV.miz
index 4084ef3..42d01b7 100644
Binary files a/_miz/SPEARHEADDEV.miz and b/_miz/SPEARHEADDEV.miz differ
diff --git a/classes/stageClasses/Stages/BaseStage/Stage.lua b/classes/stageClasses/Stages/BaseStage/Stage.lua
index a89a0e6..fd2425c 100644
--- a/classes/stageClasses/Stages/BaseStage/Stage.lua
+++ b/classes/stageClasses/Stages/BaseStage/Stage.lua
@@ -240,36 +240,45 @@ end
 function Stage:CheckAndUpdateSelf()
     self._logger:debug("Checking on Stage: " .. self.zoneName)
 
-    local activeCount = 0
     local dbTables = self:GetStageTables()
 
-    local availableMissions = {}
-    for _, mission in pairs(dbTables.missionsByCode) do
-        local state = mission:getState()
-
-        if state == "ACTIVE" then
-            activeCount = activeCount + 1
+    ---@return Array<Mission>
+    local getAvailableMissions = function ()
+        ---@type Array<Mission>
+        local availableMissions = {}
+        for _, mission in pairs(dbTables.missionsByCode) do
+            if mission:getState() == "NEW" then
+                table.insert(availableMissions, mission)
+            end
         end
+        return availableMissions
+    end
 
-        if state == "NEW" then
-            table.insert(availableMissions, mission)
+    ---@return number
+    local getActiveMissionsCount = function ()
+        local result = 0
+        for _, mission in pairs(dbTables.missionsByCode) do
+            if mission:getState() == "ACTIVE" then
+                result = result + 1
+            end
         end
+        return result
     end
 
     local max = dbTables.maxMissions
-    local availableMissionsCount = Spearhead.Util.tableLength(availableMissions)
+    local availableMissionsCount = Spearhead.Util.tableLength(getAvailableMissions())
+    local activeCount = getActiveMissionsCount()
     if activeCount < max and availableMissionsCount > 0  then
         for i = activeCount+1, max do
             if availableMissionsCount == 0 then
                 i = max+1 --exits this loop
             else
-                local index = math.random(1, availableMissionsCount)
-
-                ---@type Mission
-                local mission = table.remove(availableMissions, index)
+                local mission = Spearhead.Util.randomFromList(getAvailableMissions()) --[[@as Mission]]
                 if mission then
                     mission:SpawnActive()
                     activeCount = activeCount + 1;
+                else
+                    return
                 end
                 availableMissionsCount = availableMissionsCount - 1
             end
diff --git a/classes/stageClasses/missions/ZoneMission.lua b/classes/stageClasses/missions/ZoneMission.lua
index 8b2a9bb..a6ddefe 100644
--- a/classes/stageClasses/missions/ZoneMission.lua
+++ b/classes/stageClasses/missions/ZoneMission.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 --- ZoneMission is missions that are defined by zones in the ME
 ---@class ZoneMission : Mission, OnUnitLostListener
+---@field private _state MissionState
 ---@field private _missionGroups MissionGroups
 local ZoneMission = {}
 
@@ -137,9 +138,6 @@ function ZoneMission:UpdateState(checkHealth, messageIfDone)
     if checkHealth == nil then checkHealth = false end
     if messageIfDone == false then messageIfDone = true end
 
-    if self._state == "COMPLETED" then
-        return
-    end
 
     if checkHealth == true then
         local function unitAliveState(unitName)
@@ -254,6 +252,11 @@ function ZoneMission:SpawnActive()
 
     self._logger:info("Activating " .. self.name)
 
+    if self._state == "COMPLETED" or self._state == "ACTIVE" then
+        self._logger:debug("Mission already completed, not spawning")
+        return
+    end
+
     self._state = "ACTIVE"
     for _, group in pairs(self._missionGroups.groups) do
         group:Spawn()
diff --git a/classes/stageClasses/missions/baseMissions/Mission.lua b/classes/stageClasses/missions/baseMissions/Mission.lua
index 33450e8..9351c70 100644
--- a/classes/stageClasses/missions/baseMissions/Mission.lua
+++ b/classes/stageClasses/missions/baseMissions/Mission.lua
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@
 ---@field missionType MissionType
 ---@field missionTypeDisplay string
 ---@field priority MissionPriority
----@field missionBriefing string
 ---@field location Vec2?
 ---@field code string
----@field protected state MissionState 
+---@field protected _state MissionState 
+---@field protected _missionBriefing string
 ---@field getState fun(self: Mission): MissionState @Get the mission state
 ---@field protected _logger Logger
 ---@field protected _database Database
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ function Mission.newSuper(self, zoneName, missionName, missionType, missionBrief
     self.name = missionName
     self.missionType = missionType
     self.priority = priority
-    self.state = "NEW"
+    self._state = "NEW"
     self._logger = logger
     self._database = database
-    self.missionBriefing = missionBriefing
+    self._missionBriefing = missionBriefing
     self.code = tostring(database:GetNewMissionCode())
 
     self._completeListeners = {}
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ end
 
 ---@return MissionState
 function Mission:getState()
-    return self.state
+    return self._state
 end
 
 --region PUBLIC
diff --git a/dev/dev_config.lua b/dev/dev_config.lua
index a0bd89e..26e1de4 100644
--- a/dev/dev_config.lua
+++ b/dev/dev_config.lua
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ SpearheadConfig = {
         maxMissionStage = 10,
 
         --Stage starting number
-        startingStage = 0,
+        startingStage = 1,
 
         ---DEBUG logging. Consider keeping this disabled
         debugEnabled = true