The Southwestern Expedition

Summary:
In order for the Dominion of Alterac to acquire much-needed resources, Archaeologists to have better access to ancient ruins and for the Alliance (particularly, the Night Elven groups) to have a Friendly Sea Port, an expedition was proposed by Lord Reynalden Weisserose to Land's End Beach, Tanaris.

Reasoning:


As Lord Reynalden had pointed out, any Sea-faring Alliance---either for trading or garrisoning---would have to circumnavigate the continent of Kalimdor in order to land in an established, friendly harbor; even then, such merchants or battalions would have to march from the West Coast to the East Coast. Vice versa, any traders or legions would need to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast in order to reach an established, friendly harbor.

Financially, the Alliance would have to do one of the following in absence of an East Coast Harbor:

--Buy-out the Steamwheedle Cartel's loyalty to the Alliance

--Commission use of Steamwheedle ships to transport goods and men

--Risk storms, pirates and Horde blockades---all the while paying sailors greater wages or financing more ships as a result of the added distance between Ports.

Militarily, the Alliance would have to do one of the following in absence of an East Coast Harbor:

--Pave highways and establish forts along the route from Coast-to-Coast

--Conquer swaths of the continent, vigorously defending every inch of ground taken

--Wait longer for supplies and reinforcements to reach the Inland Garrisons and tenaciously protect the one sea route they had.

Alterac Interests:
On the whole, Alterac is a militarized zone governed by Martial Law and a transitional government. Given the loss of life, exile and migration of citizens and the lack of training and education, Alterac uses raw materials in order to purchase manufactured goods, tools, machinery and military items.

In order for Alterac to purchase what it needs (without going into debt) and still make a profit, the establishment of a Colony to extract more resources seemed the only way. While Alterac is a Neutral Faction, the Alliance was more open in terms of negotiations and trade than the Horde---hence, why the Alliance was asked to assist in this expedition.

Because nothing is without cost, Alterac heavily emphasized the notion of the Port-City being a replacement for Theramore Isle---thus, giving the Alliance a means to dock their ships safely on the East Coast of Kalimdor and a share of the resources and archaeological finds.

Tanaris:


Upon scouting all possible locations for a Landing Zone and the building site for the Colony, Land's End Beach was decided upon unanimously for a variety of reasons: chiefly, being that the Colony was easily-defensible from Land and Sea, as well as not being in close proximity to the Southsea Freebooters and other Tanaris-dwelling groups.

Along Land's End Beach and the entirety of the Tanaris Coastline, giant sea turtles and crabs roam freely and have few natural predators; this (along with their breeding habits) would ensure a steady supply of meat for the Colonists and whosoever took refuge within it.

Going Northward from Land's End is a naturally-made and narrow choke-point. By using the mountains themselves and the tremendous supply of sandstone on the beach, the Colony would be able to withstand land-bound invasion from Central Tanaris.

Because of the ever-shifting sands, the relatively short mating seasons and the neighboring carnivorous flora, fauna and Humanoids preying upon them, the Silithid would not be a large issue to the Colonists. Only if unprotected and neighboring too close, would a Caravan or Legion be susceptible to Silithid attacks.

The various ruins of Tanaris are within short distance of Land's End---especially the entrances to Uldum and the ability to send smaller vessels Westward, then up the Vir'naal River. Just as well, there are various "tribes" of Humans who innately know the safest and fastest routes through the desert and would be overjoyed to trade with the outside world.