Despite the hundreds of millions poured into the EDN (Earth Defence Network) since Torchwood was created, they were only able to keep an eye on one percent of outer space.

Wherever the long range scanners happened to be pointed that day designated which section of the vast expanse was being watched. Short range scanners on the other hand made sure that at least ninety-percent of the immediate orbit was under watch twenty four hours a day. With such odds it was much a surprise to Toshiko when one dark night from the blue one of their monitors flagged up unusual motion.

Moving from her alien translation Toshiko pulled up the screen that was flashing for her attention.

- Long range sensors detect foreign energy signature –

The notice flashed red on the screen. Pulling up the details Toshiko was shocked to see just how far away the energy signature was. It was so far out at the edge of their galaxy the orbiting sensors couldn't even tell her how big, how fast, in which direction or if it was even a ship they were detecting.

Regardless, she swivelled in her seat and shouted up to Jack's office. "I think you should come look at this, long range sensors have picked up something entering our galaxy!" she shouted hoping that Jack hadn't stepped out of the office without her noticing. Moments later the charismatic, immortal time agent stuck his head over the railings.

"Identity?" he asked

"Nothing yet, it's too far to tell just yet," Toshiko explained as she looked at the miniscule amount of information she was receiving.

"Moving?"

"Yes, sensors are saying that it's moving at a high rate of speed in our direction," she said as more information was received

"How fast is fast?" Jack queried as he made his way down the stairs "From the very edge that's at least three weeks travel in even the fastest of ships,"

"According to the calculations here…" Toshiko went quiet as she calculated the speed it was hurtling towards them "…four days until it's in our orbit,"

"Four days?" Jack exclaimed as he looked over her shoulder "that has to be wrong – nothing moves that fast unless it's teleporting at which point it would be here already,"

"It says four days, give or take a few hours," Toshiko explained but she and Jack both knew how to read the information provided; if the computer said four days, it was four days.

"How big is it?" Jack asked as more information began to scroll up the screen. Toshiko tapped on the important section bringing it up in large font.

"Massive… sensors can't say exactly while it's moving but at least thirty miles long," she gasped

"See if you can contact them; anything moving that fast and that big will be picked up by normal satellites, easily and we don't want that,"

Hitting keys in a blur Toshiko sent out the generic hailing message that they had often used on approaching ships. In silence they sat and watched on screens as the ship continued to power through the solar system heading for Earth.

"What are the chances it is just passing through?" Jack wondered aloud

"Nil, its course is matching to our own. There are plenty of ways through the system that don't shadow our own passage. This ship is heading here," Toshiko explained

"I knew that. Why don't they ever just go around?" he sighed grabbing the office phone out of its cradle and dialling in some well known numbers. After a few moments ringing the phone clicked at the other end.

"Prime Minister – it's Jack Harkness here. I have some bad news…" he sighed. It was going to be one of those days.