On approach

"Full speed ahead, Anton. Let's see if we can outrun those storm clouds."

"Aye, aye, Skipper."


And here she is, the Storm Brother. I've been wanting to do a sketch of the airship for a while now, to help with my visualisation of Nathaniel's ship. I'm not entirely happy with the gondola, but it does the job.

You can see the detail of the armour-plating on the underside of the gasbag - I rather like the idea of airships as warships, but cloth gives way a little too easily. The Storm Brother started life as an Elburzian Condor-class airship bomber, but the line was discontinued years ago and the surplus ships sold off. As an ex-warship, her gasbag is covered in 2-inch thick steel plating. Yes, despite all that extra weight, she can still fly! That's what a lightmass engine's for.

Phillip J. Johns