Temporal Mechanics - Part 2B (Graphic Novel Format, PDF Version) (Patreon)

Temporal Mechanics - Part 2B (Graphic Novel Format, PDF Version)

The Forerunners

In The Airship Andalusia's 2,000-year story arc, there is a period of time during the establishment of the galaxy- spanning human Directorate called the Expansion. In the wake of The Aftermath, the scant remnants of the human race abandoned Ancient Earth for the stars. Initial forays beyond humanity's home system, Sol, led to an incredible discovery -- explorers found mysterious, space-borne artifacts of immense size and great power floating in interstellar space beyond the edge of the solar system. Examination of these objects and devices was unable to reveal the identity of the creators but did establish that they had been in existence and functioning for millennia. This technologically-advanced space-faring civilization came to be known as the Forerunners. In addition to pan-galactic transit gates, engines designed to transform lifeless planets into habitable worlds, and devices that could harness the power of singularities, the Forerunners created propulsion technology that used the very fabric of space/time to move large masses across vast distances at velocities just under the speed of light. Recognizing the incredible gift the Forerunners had left for humanity to discover and use, the Directorate set about making plans to send humans to colonize every corner of the galaxy.

The Ringships

The plan was simple: deploy the planet-transforming world engines across the galaxy, targeting planetary systems where human life could flourish. Behind the world engines would come fleets of immense spacecraft containing the seeds of humanity. Over the centuries that these massive toroid- shaped vehicles , or ringships, would take to reach the terraformed worlds, they would slowly fill with generations upon generations of humans so that upon reaching their destination, millions of colonists would be waiting to settle the new world. The plan worked so well that the Directorate's influence eventually spanned the entire galaxy, from the core to the rim. Augmented humans played a pivotal role in the Expansion. As nearly-immortal Caretakers, Augmented Humans were tasked with maintaining the ringships during their centuries in transit. For long-time fans of The Airship Andalusia, you may recall that Cee, aka Caretaker 172, is one of these Augmented Human ringship caretakers.

The Story

We have embarked on creating a three-part series under the working title of The Ringship Chronicles. These three stories will examine different aspects of life aboard a Directorate Ringship as it is in transit to its destination world. The first installment is Temporal Mechanics featuring Mae Dalton. If you thought you knew Mae Dalton as the bombastically busty matriarch of the Outlaw Dalton Clan, think again. She is all that and much, much more.

Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: The Airship Andalusia's graphic novels are still AI-Free, continuing the tradition of creating original characters and stories since 2017.

Stories and art by Aaron Hanson (c) 2025