After messing around with the supplies string for a while I woundered if the hint in the description of it being easier than we think was something as simple as base64 or base32. So quick ctf script to strip and decode and we have the flag:

```
import re
import string
import base64

rem_chars = "$()#^_@%!"

s = "$$$@_@c^_^$$$$mF#_#kYX^___^J7#$^$&^d$#$#%$W@!!!!5!u#$#%$Y_________X%%$$$%%%R1%@@cm##_##_##_Fs$$#X2#$^$%$#@Jhc#@#@$#%$2U2^_^NF#_#9$$$@@@iY!_!_!_!_!_!3p$$#$#fY%$%$%$mFk%$^$%$$#X2##$##$No$$#$#$#$#Y$$$$$$$$$X()()()J$_$zf(___)Q#$#%$%^%$$$#$#$#"

rtx = re.compile("[%s]" % rem_chars)

clt = s.translate(string.maketrans("", "", ), rem_chars)
print(clt)
print(base64.b64decode(clt + "=="))
```

cmFkYXJ7&dW5uYXR1cmFsX2Jhc2U2NF9iY3pfYmFkX2NoYXJzfQ

> radar{unnatural_base64_bcz_bad_chars}