Astoria's not surrounded by a bunch of Heroes in the desert, which is what, the third chapter in a row where he appears? And in the one before that, you're rushing pelmel to get end the chapter before Hardin gets to you. And in the one before that, you've got other things to do, kinda.
Yes, I know Astoria spawns with a bunch of heros by him in the desert chapter. However, the idiot crossed the river along with one of his snipers. Everyone else took the bridge, pretty much isolating him.