Noah was reviewing tactical positions when one of his team members, Martinez, approached with the kind of hesitant expression that meant bad news was coming.
"Sir, we've got some supply discrepancies that need your attention."
"What kind of discrepancies?" Noah asked, though he suspected he already knew.
"Food rations, mostly. About fifteen percent of our emergency supplies are unaccounted for. Could be inventory errors, but..." Martinez shrugged. "The amounts match what we've been distributing to the civilian population."
'Taking extra food. Normal behavior for people in distress. Makes sense—they've been surviving on minimal resources for days.'
"Understandable," Noah said calmly. "People in crisis situations often take more than they immediately need. It's a survival instinct."
