I understand that Cobblers Bay is a city on the McMasterdonian canal itself. There are two approaches to the canal -- one from the south, and one from the north, with the internal sea of McMasterdonia between the two. What do you call that sea, or large inland body of water?
I caught that it is raining. I shall use that for the RANS Sea Lion to approach the McMasterdonian Canal's northern approach from the northeast. The weather shall delay the arrival. I assume the train is stopped south of Cobbler's Bay, north of the city of Castello and the Porticullis crossing of the River Sophia. So if I have the geography correct, the train is heading north on the west side of the sea, and the RANS Sea Lion shall be heading south once it transits the northern part of the McMasterdonian Canal
and gets updated word that the train has not arrived in Cobbler's Bay.
If this is correct, then the RANS Sea Lion shall, in foul weather, expect to clear <YOU NAME IT POINT> northeast of the Canal proper, salute and dip ensign to Fort <YOU NAME IT FORT> on <FORT NAME POINT> at the canal entrance, and pick up Pilot <YOU NAME HIM OR HER> (who likely has no idea how to handle a three-masted sailing ship of war) to guide her through the northern man-made portion of the Canal, drop off the pilot and berth at Cobbler's Bay (rendering military honors, or honours in your case). You may expect a twenty-seven gun salute at Fort <YOU NAME IT FORT>, and if you want, at the berthing honors as well; no cannonballs will be harmed in the rendering of said salutes.
The episode with Pilot <YOU NAME HIM OR HER> could be a moment of light comedy. I'm sure your pilots are used to motorized vessels -- even most modern sailboats motor through canals. That isn't an option here, and it might be noteworthy that the extra width of the sea-level McMasterdonian Canal wasn't intended to accommodate modern cargo vessels, but to give leeway for vessels under sail. I'm sure you've had it dredged a number of times to account for the increased draft of the modern shipping vessel.
I would rather have Captain Castiglione receive word from your trusted messenger at dockside that the Queen Mother and the Prince Regent have gone missing. I have a Royal Marine aboard, Tenente Khovinishipura, who has a sharp tactical mind and would suggest the Porticullis naturally as a place to check on a southerly transit to find the missing train. Your royal party and guards may have to be doing a bit of dash and cover, but I'm confident they'll catch the RANS Sea Lion's attention somehow. The vessel isn't well-equipped for a long stand-off distance surface combat action, but can pack quite the wallop on anything within a third of a kilometer if she can lay a broadside on it.
Now, about the RANS Sea Tigress. I'm going to have her heading for the southern approaches to the McMasterdonian Canal from due south. She only has thirty-six guns, and her captain and crew are friendlier to Queen Junia than to King Guglielmo. Nevertheless, Captain Remini has received orders to escort the Sea Lion, and she obeys orders. Again, please name <NAMED SOUTHERN APPROACH LANDMARKS> and Fort <NAME SOUTHERNMOST FORT FOR SALUTING> in this thread, so I have something to work with! I'll need another pilot here as well, unless the southern approach is now so dangerous that boarding a pilot would be foolhardy. In that case, the RANS Sea Tigress shall forcibly sail the passage without a pilot.
It may be that the two vessels rendezvous at just about the same spot that the Queen Regent and Crown Prince Richard are awaiting rescue. If so, your party may board either (or both) vessels with a reasonable assurance of safe conduct; in the Sea Lion's case, gladly given, and albeit a bit more reluctantly with the Sea Tigress. If you want to go this route, PM me with which vessel(s) you wish to embark upon; there is no need to inform anyone else -- they can guess instead. I may split the ships up in that case, or have them sail together -- we'll play it by ear.
So my next post in the role-play thread will be a set-up for all this action. I hope this is all okay with you.
>^,,^<
Alunya
