                                Command : BUY

NAME
   buy - Purchase commodities from the world market

Level: Expert

SYNTAX
   [##:##] Command : buy <ITEM> <LOT#> <BID/UNIT> <DEST>

The  buy  command  allows  nations to purchase commodities on the open market.
Not all commodities can be traded -- notably civilians and military.

It is based on a bidding system, and after the bidding time  has  passed,  the
transactions  are executed, and the highest bidder gets the goods (maybe.)  If
there are no bidders once the time passes, the goods stay on  the  market  and
the first bidder will get them.

Typical output looks like:
   [##:##] Command : buy food

        Empire Market Report
      Wed Mar 13 14:26:26 1996
    lot  high bid  by  time left  owner  item  amount  sector
    ---  --------  --  ---------  -----  ----  ------  ------
      0  $  10.00   1   0.00 hrs  (  1)   f        10
      1  $   1.00   1   0.00 hrs  (  1)   f        10

   Looks just like Christmas at K-mart, doesn't it!

   Which lot are you bidding on: 1
   WARNING!  This market issues credit.  If you make more
     bids than your treasury can cover at the time of sale,
     you can potentially go into financial ruin, and see no
     gains.  You have been warned.

   How much per unit: 2
   destination sector : 3,1
   Your bid is being considered.

In  addition, the "destination sector" must be a warehouse or harbor, and must
be greater than 60% efficient to receive commodities.

SEE ALSO
   reset, sell, market, Market

