The US military had been embroiled in the game for 3 years, and throughout this period, they had faced countless challenges, learned their lessons, and sharpened their strategies. Their preparation was evident in the establishment of their own farms. Corn, intended to provide sustenance for their vast ranks. However, their calculations did not include the hunger penalty, which was threefold. This oversight meant that their harvests, although bountiful, still fell short of the army's demands.
Alan had sympathetically anticipated the military's reluctance to expend a whopping 50,000 survival points on food, despite the pressing need. While it was a significant setback, he had contingencies in place. Rather than pressing for immediate payment, Alan's adaptability came to the forefront. He offered flexibility in payment terms: a deferred payment post the current round, or even bartering items that the military deemed superfluous.
