Story:Star Trek: Columbia/The Price of Anything/Act One

Columbia is traveling at warp four point two.

On the bridge Captain Martin is sitting in the chair thinking.

Commander Nelson looks at his console.

Captain sensors have been picking up something on the long range scanners Commander Nelson says as he looks at his console and then at her.

Lieutenant Lao looks at her console.

Something is out there, sir, tracking us, matching our speed and heading. Something which does not fully register on our instruments Lieutenant Lao says as she looks at her console and then at Captain Martin.

She looks at her.

Since there is no known natural phenomenon capable of travel at warp velocities, there are but two possibilities. Either it is a sensor malfunction, another ship is following us covertly Captain Martin says as she looks at the viewer.

Lieutenant Lao looks at her console.

It is not a sensor malfunction Captain we checked them at our last stop at Earth Spacedock Lieutenant Lao says as she looks at Captain Martin.

She goes back to her chair.

Agreed Captain Martin says as she looks at Lao.

Ensign T'Ro turns to her.

But Captain, if it is a Romulan ship, with their cloaking device we shouldn't pick them up at all Ensign T'Ro says as he looks at her.

Commander Williams looks at him.

Unless they're pulling so much power for something else that they can't fully cloak Commander Williams says as she looks at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

Like what? Ensign T'Ro says as he looks at them.

Katie looks at him.

Ask the Romulans. If it is the Romulans Commander Williams says as she looks at him.

Captain Martin turns to Lieutenant Lao.

Lieutenant, continue monitoring the precise position of the echo. Any sudden change in its behavior, initiate tactical alert Captain Martin says as she looks at her and sat in the Captain's Chair.