Fall of the New York Barrier City The Fall of the New York Barrier City was less a battle and more a tragic example of actions based on incorrect assumption and blind determinism . An event that echoes the fate of previous destroyed Barrier Cities , the antagonistic invading race of ghosts , known as the Phantoms , infiltrate and destroy the New York Barrier City . Prelude . General Douglas Hein was a staunch supporter of the use of the Zeus Cannon to attack the Phantoms at their source ; the Leonid Meteor . However , his desire to use the weapon was constantly frustrated by the United Nations Security Council ; who was constantly voting by majority not to use the cannon . Douglas ' s rival to the council ' s ear was Dr . Sid , professor and creator of the Bio Etherium division of science , whose successive theories on the planet ' s Gaia and spirits Hein found ridiculous . When Sid ’ s protégé , Aki Ross , revealed that she was carrying a Phantom infection inside of her , Hein began nursing suspicions that the Phantoms were controlling her ; and through her , Sid . Finding probable cause , he dispatched three of Major Elliot ' s men to accompany Aki Ross to the wastelands , discovering that the infection was indeed having an effect on her and on the Phantoms around her . Based on his suspicions he had Aki , Sid and the Deep Eyes squad that had accompanied her , arrested and placed in a USMF holding cell . battle . Intending to convince the Council to take military action against the Phantoms , Hein gathered a squad of his most trusted men and , accompanied by Major Elliot , infiltrated and apprehended the city ' s Barrier control center . Deactivating a small part of the city ' s barrier , Hein intentionally allowed a number of Phantoms to enter the city ; intending to stage a momentary and controllable " break in " . However , the Phantoms began to disperse from the containment area , travelling via the energy pipes that supplied the barrier with energy . One such Phantom made its way to the barrier control center , killing the operator and causing a feedback that resulted in the center ' s destruction . With the control centre no longer supplying it with energy , the city ' s barrier began to disperse , allowing more and more Phantoms ; their bodies visible due to the bio - etheric discharge from the barrier , into the city limits . Surprised and woefully unprepared the citizens of the city , both military and civilian , began falling to the invaders ; their souls consumed through mere contact . As the city ' s power supply is cut , the laser grid holding Aki , Sid and the Deep Eyes incarcerated disappears . Escaping through the city walkways the group is momentarily split as Phantoms attack them , however , with the Deep Eyes finding a Bandit hummvy , they are regrouped and make their way to where the Black Boa was being detained in the military hangar . Aftermath . Despite the death of Major Elliot , Douglas Hein manages to escape , temporarily attempting suicide in guilt over what he had caused , however he instead approaches the Zeus Cannon ; still determined to destroy the Phantoms through its use . Members of the United Nations Security Council had also escaped the city , contacting Hein over the incident and giving him authority to use the cannon ; unaware that he was the cause for the fall of the New York Barrier .