Food on the table "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58204.20 1830

Quarters of Ensign Jeff Westfall=

Jeff Westfall sat in his quarters with the lights at 1/3 brightness and the temperature elevated to thirty-three degrees Centigrade. There was a relaxation track playing from the Zion's extensive music library. Jeff had just finished a routine shift, and returned directly to his quarters, after he had been relieved by the crewman on his opposite rotation. He spent a few minutes summarizing the activity, which consisted mostly of running intensive diagnostics of the U.S.S. Zion's many sensor arrays, trying to locate numerous anomalies that were showing up. There were reports of locked doors opening, doors opening when no-one was there, intermittent failures of environmental controls that kept crew's quarters at constant temperatures, to suit individual physiologies, lights not working, diagnostic equipment going "dead". It bothered him. As tactical officer it should.

He was trying to relax to "Sounds of the Seashore" with waves breaking over the rocks, and ebbing to the shore. Usually when he was feeling stressed, this was his "calm down" tool, and normally it worked. Tonight however, he had an uneasy feeling that he couldn't explain. It was a cold prickly feeling, he couldn't explain.

In his capacity as the Zion's Tactical Officer, Jeff was used to tracking multiple events and identifying "threats" of many kinds. It wasn't even a feeling of being "watched", that was routine in his job. As Tactical Officer, and hopefully, someday Chief Tactical Officer, he was paid to think quickly, calmly, rationally, and objectively. A split second's hesitation could cause the loss of the ship, and all hands aboard.

A shiver ran down his spine, as he closed his eyes, and saw the USS Bezar on the main view screen. His own disembodied voice informed Captain Hunter, "Sir, the USS Bezar has been *terminated* with no survivors. All it had taken was the Captain's order, and he had quickly fired four photon torpedoes into the ship, and the explosions were very visible on the main view screen as the rogue ship's warp core instantaneously breached, bringing the explosive interaction as matter met anti-matter. There was a blinding flash, and debris. Not even anything to collect.

Jeff felt suddenly uneasy. He decided to do something about it. He couldn't afford to become ill. He was the Senior Tactical Officer.

Dr. Dane, this is Tactical Officer Jeff Westfall. I hate to disturb you on your off time, but I don't feel "right" could I see you as soon as possible please, at your convenience?

"That's o.k. Mr Westfall, Teilani responded. "I’ am still in sickbay so drop by anytime."

Jeff quickly headed to sickbay. He definitely felt a bit under the weather.

"Hello Doctor, you look like you've had a day and a half, is everything alright?

Teilani smiled. "it has been quite a hectic day today Mr Westfall.”

“You look like you've been working *Far* too hard. ”Westfall continued “ Don't worry, I'm not going to "Rat out" the Chief Medical Officer...I might need a note from you to give the Captain re-assurance I'm not going mad".

The reason I thought I needed to see you, is that I just got off shift, And I've been feeling "Chilly Willies" going up and down my spine. I've currently got the environmental controls set at 33 degrees centigrade, and I'm *still* feeling cold. I can't explain it.

"Hm I see, I have hade more complaints like that", Teilani responded. "Please take a seat on biobed 4 and I will try to find out what the problem is."

Teilani took her scanner and ran it over Mr Westfalls body. At first glance there was nothing wrong, but some of the readings were a little off.

"Well Mr Westfall, there is nothing really wrong with you, but I will give you a booster with some vitamins just to be on the save side.

"Thanks Doctor, that'd be appreciated, I can't afford "Down Time" right now, with all the weird things going on around the ship, I don't like sedatives, because I've got to be "Spot On" all the time, in case of Red Alert. We are a ship of war against a largely unseen enemy, things can happen too quickly, as you found out with the USS Kitty Hawk.

Anyway, since my night seems to be thoroughly *messed*, I might as well go to the holosuite and work on that recreation program I was developing. It's an English Pub Restaurant in 21st Century Toronto, I'm just trying to fine tune the Yorkshire Pudding so that it doesn't turn out hard like a hockey puck. I think I've got the rest of the stuff down. Would you like to join me for dinner, with real horseradish?

Mr Westfall, one word of advise from your medical officer?? "You have to learn to relax. We are docked at QulTuq there is no need for you to be "Spot on" all the time."

"And as for you invitation to dinner", Teilani looked at her chronometer. "I would love to have dinner with you." It has been a long time since I have eaten something.”

To be continued.