Voyages and expeditions of Discovery

[Galveston Bay]

1775
Thomas Hearne is sent up the Saskatchewan River, meanwhile Captain Cooke is almost home from his 2nd voyage of Discovery

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Hudson_Bay_Exploration_Western_Interior_map_de.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_voyage_of_James_Cook#/media/File:Cook'sSecondVoyage53.png

[Kilani]

In 1774 and 1775, the Spanish send expeditions to explore the coast of the Pacific Northwest and re-establish their claims to the area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Jos%C3%A9_P%C3%A9rez_Hern%C3%A1ndez

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Francisco_de_la_Bodega_y_Quadra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_de_Heceta

[Galveston Bay]

1775
Captain Cook returns home with a very successful completion of his 2nd voyage.  This voyage also strongly improves navigation as the chronometer is proven effective.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_voyage_of_James_Cook#Return_home

The British government makes funds available for a third voyage to begin in 1776

[Galveston Bay]

British exploration 1775-1785
The Crown funds mapping expeditions to the lower reaches of the Missouri, Platte and Kansas Rivers (RL Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa), the far South Atlantic (Falkland and South Georgia island groups), much of Manitoba, Sasktchewan, Ontario and into Alberta.   Broader exploration reaches the Arctic Ocean (via the Mackenzie River).  

The crowning glory however is the 3rd Expedition by Captain Cook, which lasts 4 years, and discovers the Hawaiian Islands, the Pacific Northwest and southern Alaska, establishes there is no route to the Pacific from the Atlantic directly aside from Cape Horn (and the Straits of Magellan) maps a route to Japan via the North Pacific (and the rest of East Asia), and suffers only a handful of deaths over a 4 year voyage, although Captain Cook suffers injuries at Hawaii but narrowly escapes death.

The British Crown lays formal claim to the Pacific Northwest of North America (essentially from the RL California border including RL Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory), and also lays formal claim to the Hawaiian Islands.  (Note Cook survives, per referee determination)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_voyage_of_James_Cook#/media/File:Cook'sThirdVoyage58.png

complete works with maps and including British claims are provided to various European capitals as far to the east as Russia.

Sir James Cook, Baronet, is put to work with professional writers and scholars chronicling his 3 voyages and eagerly hopes to return to sea.

[Ottoman]

The Imperial Court at St.Petersburg disputes the British claim to the Pacific Northwest, noting they have trading posts in Alaska and have send explorers to the region. They contest that coast of Pacific Northwest has not been formally demarcated between three powers Spain, Britain and Russia.

[Galveston Bay]

The Imperial Court at St.Petersburg disputes the British claim to the Pacific Northwest, noting they have trading posts in Alaska and have send explorers to the region. They contest that coast of Pacific Northwest has not been formally demarcated between three powers Spain, Britain and Russia.

The British Government suggests a conference to be held in neutral territory (perhaps the Netherlands?) with the Spanish and Russian governments sending officials to discuss the future of the North Pacific.  However, it should be noted that the British Government has respected Russian claims to Alaska and Spanish claims to California

[Kilani]

The Spanish court likewise disputes the British claims, noting that the Spanish expeditions of 1774 and 1775 performed several acts of sovereignty and reestablished the formal Spanish claim to the territory (essentially the same territory as that supposedly claimed by the British, stretching east to the Rocky Mountains/continental divide), which was already claimed as far back as 1513. Further, a 1779 expedition likewise produced mapping results and further reinforced Spanish claims. They are prepared to meet to discuss claims, but their position remains that the territory is Spanish by claim and right.

[Ottoman]

The Russian envoy recommends to have the talks in Lisbon, due to ongoing issues in Netherlands( see events thread for that)

[Galveston Bay]

Lisbon is acceptable to the British Government

[Kilani]

Lisbon is also acceptable to the Spanish crown.

[Galveston Bay]

As part of the agreement in the Treaty of Nootka Sound, the British send an expedition to Northwest Pacific Coast of North America for mapping and survey
2.18 points (4 year mission, to be commanded by Captain Woodcock, with William Bligh as Navigator and Survey Specialist

[Galveston Bay]

In 1788, the British East India Company initiates discussions with the Sultan of Brunei to establish a trading post there (3 points allocated)

In addition, the Royal Navy, British Government and British East India Company organize a joint expedition to Okinawa to initiate contact with the Satsuma clan that dominates that island (2.85 points allocated plus the Royal Navy Southern Fleet)
if necessary, force will be used to seize those islands, but ideally bluff will be enough
Admiral Howe is placed in command of this expedition. A young Arthur Wellesley is at the side of his brother Sir Richard Wellesley, who represents the Crown, and John Shore, the Baron Teignmouth, represents the East India Company

[Ottoman]

By the end of 1788

Sultan of Brunei agrees to allow the Company to setup a trading post in his lands.

Meanwhile by the end of 1788, word reaches Calcutta of what happen to the Japanese mission.

After arriving in the harbor of Naha, Okinawa. These was tense standoff between the local Japanese forces and the British fleet. The local Satsuma representatives quickly send word to Home Islands to get representatives from bakufu. The Japanese realize the British weren't going leave given fact they deploy a large fleet for this trade mission. After much negotiation, the Japanese representatives offer the following terms to the British representatives.

1. East India Company traders are limited to Naha, Okinawa
2. No missionaries
3. The East India Company is allow to setup a trading outpost in Naha, but must pay tribute to the local Ryukyu Kingdom( Japanese client state, technically Qing client state in name only). Tribute will be .15 points a year for next 10 years.

[Galveston Bay]

1789 Captain Charles Vancouver is given command of 5 Frigates and 5 armed small transports (size of HMS Bounty) from the Western Approaches Command to mount an major expedition to the Pacific. Lieutenant William Bligh is given the role as chief navigation and cartographic officer.

His mission is the following:
Trading Post Honolulu and assistance to king kamehameha 5 points (Assist the King in unifying Hawaii in exchange for the trading post at Honolulu)

Explore, chart and establish trading posts at Suva (Fiji) and Pago Pago (Samoa) 10 points
(assist local chiefs as necessary)

Establish trading post Tacoma (Washington) 3 points (in conjunction British American Fur Trading Company)

This mission is expected to last 5 years (transit and exploration mission)

[Galveston Bay]

Russian exploration voyages 1801-1804
https://commonwealthe20.rpg-board.net/t230-the-russian-empire#3073

other expeditions are planned including a future expedition to probe the far southern Indian Ocean

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