diff --git a/styles/zero-engine.css b/styles/zero-engine.css
index 826a9a1..df98cd2 100644
--- a/styles/zero-engine.css
+++ b/styles/zero-engine.css
@@ -1519,11 +1519,12 @@
    ======================================== */
 
 .panic-result {
-  background: rgba(139, 0, 0, 0.2);
+  background: #1c0808;
   border: 2px solid #8b0000;
   border-radius: 6px;
   padding: 15px;
   margin: 10px 0;
+  color: #e0e0e0;
 }
 
 .panic-formula {
@@ -1534,16 +1535,16 @@
 
 .panic-total {
   font-size: 20px;
-  color: #ff4444;
+  color: #ff5555;
   font-weight: bold;
 }
 
 .panic-success {
-  background: rgba(0, 128, 0, 0.2);
+  background: #081c08;
   border: 2px solid #00aa00;
   border-radius: 4px;
   padding: 12px;
-  color: #00ff00;
+  color: #55ee55;
   font-weight: bold;
   text-align: center;
   margin-top: 10px;
@@ -1551,15 +1552,16 @@
 }
 
 .panic-effect {
-  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+  background: #111111;
   border: 1px solid #ff4444;
   border-radius: 4px;
   padding: 12px;
   margin-top: 10px;
+  color: #e0e0e0;
 }
 
 .panic-effect strong {
-  color: #ff6b6b;
+  color: #ff7777;
   font-size: 16px;
   display: block;
   margin-bottom: 8px;
@@ -1568,11 +1570,12 @@
 }
 
 .critical-injury {
-  background: rgba(220, 20, 60, 0.2);
+  background: #1c080d;
   border: 2px solid #dc143c;
   border-radius: 6px;
   padding: 15px;
   margin: 10px 0;
+  color: #e0e0e0;
 }
 
 .crit-roll {
@@ -1598,21 +1601,23 @@
 }
 
 .time-limit {
-  background: rgba(255, 170, 0, 0.2);
+  background: #1a1200;
   border: 1px solid #ffaa00;
   border-radius: 4px;
   padding: 8px;
-  color: #ffaa00;
+  color: #ffbb33;
   font-weight: bold;
   margin: 8px 0;
 }
 
 .crit-effects,
-.crit-healing {
-  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
+.crit-healing,
+.crit-recovery {
+  background: #111111;
   border-radius: 4px;
   padding: 8px;
   margin: 8px 0;
+  color: #d8d8d8;
 }
 
 .crit-effects strong,
@@ -1622,6 +1627,67 @@
   margin-bottom: 4px;
 }
 
+/* ========================================
+   CHAT CARD — MISSING BACKGROUND FIX
+   All system chat output needs a solid dark background so that
+   coloured text remains readable regardless of Foundry's chat theme.
+   ======================================== */
+
+/* Instability roll result */
+.instability-result {
+  background: #0e1a14;
+  border: 2px solid #ff6600;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  padding: 10px 14px;
+  margin: 6px 0;
+  color: #e0e0e0;
+}
+.instability-result p { margin: 4px 0; color: #e0e0e0; }
+.instability-result strong { color: #fff; }
+.instability-no-effect { color: #55ee88 !important; font-weight: bold; }
+.instability-effect-text { color: #d8d8d8 !important; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; }
+.instability-auto-note {
+  color: #ffcc55 !important;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-style: italic;
+  border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,204,85,0.3);
+  margin-top: 6px;
+  padding-top: 4px;
+}
+
+/* Panic result — auto-note row */
+.panic-auto {
+  background: rgba(255, 200, 0, 0.1);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 200, 0, 0.3);
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: #ffcc44;
+  margin-top: 6px;
+}
+.panic-auto strong { color: #ffe066; }
+
+/* Drug GM alert (stamina strain, drug state) */
+.drug-gm-alert {
+  background: #0d0d1a;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(0, 180, 255, 0.4);
+  border-radius: 5px;
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  color: #c0d8ff;
+  font-size: 13px;
+}
+.drug-gm-alert strong { color: #88ccff; }
+
+/* Weapon reload notification */
+.weapon-reload-chat {
+  background: #0d1a0d;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(0, 200, 100, 0.35);
+  border-radius: 5px;
+  padding: 7px 10px;
+  color: #b8eec8;
+  font-size: 13px;
+}
+
 /* ========================================
    ROLLABLE INDICATOR
    ======================================== */
diff --git a/system.json b/system.json
index de2006b..62df523 100644
--- a/system.json
+++ b/system.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "id": "zero-engine",
   "title": "Zero Engine (SLA Industries)",
   "description": "A basic game system for SLA Industries using the Zero Engine rules.",
-  "version": "1.4.1",
+  "version": "1.4.2",
   "compatibility": {
     "minimum": 13,
     "verified": "14.359"
diff --git a/zero-engine.mjs b/zero-engine.mjs
index 01908c5..9128c57 100644
--- a/zero-engine.mjs
+++ b/zero-engine.mjs
@@ -1644,9 +1644,9 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheet extends foundry.appv1.sheets.ActorSheet {
       ui.notifications.info(`${actor.name} rests — weapons restored: ${names}`);
       await ChatMessage.create({
         speaker: ChatMessage.getSpeaker({ actor }),
-        content: `<div style="border:2px solid #00a860;border-radius:6px;padding:8px 12px;background:rgba(0,60,30,0.3);margin:4px 0;">
+        content: `<div style="border:2px solid #00a860;border-radius:6px;padding:8px 12px;background:#0a1a0e;margin:4px 0;">
           <strong style="color:#55ffaa;font-size:14px;">🛏 ${actor.name} — RESTING</strong><br>
-          <span style="color:#ccc;font-size:12px;">Weapons restored: <strong>${names}</strong></span>
+          <span style="color:#c8c8c8;font-size:12px;">Weapons restored: <strong style="color:#fff;">${names}</strong></span>
         </div>`
       });
     }
@@ -1712,7 +1712,7 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheet extends foundry.appv1.sheets.ActorSheet {
       await ChatMessage.create({
         speaker: ChatMessage.getSpeaker({ actor }),
         flavor: `<strong>🔀 ${actor.name} — Instability Check</strong>`,
-        content: `<div class="instability-result"><p>Rolled <strong>${dieVal}</strong> + Instability <strong>${currentInstability}</strong> = <strong>${total}</strong></p><p style="color:#44cc88;">✓ Held together. No effect.</p></div>`,
+        content: `<div class="instability-result"><p>Rolled <strong>${dieVal}</strong> + Instability <strong>${currentInstability}</strong> = <strong>${total}</strong></p><p class="instability-no-effect">✓ Held together. No effect.</p></div>`,
         rolls: [roll]
       });
       return;
@@ -1730,7 +1730,7 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheet extends foundry.appv1.sheets.ActorSheet {
     let content = `<div class="instability-result">`;
     content += `<p>Rolled <strong>${dieVal}</strong> + Instability <strong>${currentInstability}</strong> = <strong>${total}</strong></p>`;
     content += `<p style="color:${severityColour};font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;">${entry.name}</p>`;
-    content += `<p style="color:#333;">${entry.effect}</p>`;
+    content += `<p class="instability-effect-text">${entry.effect}</p>`;
 
     // Auto-apply immediate mechanical effects
     const updates = {};
@@ -1777,7 +1777,7 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheet extends foundry.appv1.sheets.ActorSheet {
       await actor.update(updates);
     }
     if (notes.length > 0) {
-      content += `<p style="color:#ffcc44;font-size:11px;font-style:italic;">Auto-applied: ${notes.join(' | ')}</p>`;
+      content += `<p class="instability-auto-note">Auto-applied: ${notes.join(' | ')}</p>`;
     }
     content += '</div>';
 
@@ -2588,9 +2588,9 @@ class ZeroEngineActorSheet extends foundry.appv1.sheets.ActorSheet {
         await weaponItem.update({ 'system.ammoEmpty': true });
         await ChatMessage.create({
           speaker: ChatMessage.getSpeaker({ actor }),
-          content: `<div style="border:2px solid #cc4400;border-radius:6px;padding:8px 12px;background:rgba(80,20,0,0.3);margin:4px 0;">
-            <strong style="color:#ff6633;font-size:14px;">🔒 ${weaponInfo.name} — OUT OF AMMO</strong><br>
-            <span style="color:#ccc;font-size:12px;">A stress die came up 1 on the push — the weapon has run dry. Rest to restore ammunition.</span>
+          content: `<div style="border:2px solid #cc4400;border-radius:6px;padding:8px 12px;background:#1a0800;margin:4px 0;">
+            <strong style="color:#ff7755;font-size:14px;">🔒 ${weaponInfo.name} — OUT OF AMMO</strong><br>
+            <span style="color:#c8c8c8;font-size:12px;">A stress die came up 1 on the push — the weapon has run dry. Rest to restore ammunition.</span>
           </div>`
         });
       }