[##:##] Command : trade
The trade report lists all ships, planes, land units and nukes that are being sold and allows you to buy them.
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.
Your bid must be higher than the currently high bid.
Typical output looks like:
[##:##] Command : trade
Empire Trade Report
Wed Mar 13 14:42:45 1996
lot high bid by time left owner description
--- -------- -- --------- ----- -------------------------
0 $ 1000 2 0.06 hrs ( 2) tech 0 100% inf1 infantry 1 [f:21 ] #3
Which lot to buy: 0
Destination sector: 4,0
How much do you bid: 1100
Your bid on lot #0 is being considered.
The cargo of ships and land units are listed in the square brackets, in this case, 4 guns and 40 shells. The nuclear armament of planes is listed in parentheses.