The Novara Expedition of 1857 was sent out to prepare the ground for colonies. The Admirality recognized that with the building of the Suez channel Austria would be in a very favourable position for the East Asia Trade. Trieste was built up, Suez Channel shares were reserved for Austria, and the Suedbahn from Vienna to Trieste was built. The Nicobars (then claimed by Denmark) were planned as a waystation (and, incidentially, a dumping ground for criminals), and there were plans for aquiring harbor rights in China. The scientific part of the mission was no more than an afterthought. The Italian war of 1859 shattered those hopes, and the Austrian part of the Suez shares, which did not sell well in the post-war depression, were gobbled up by the British, which gave them their majority in the company. More support from FJI and a different 1859 war could help in getting Austria some colonies. Or even better- this was Archduke Ferdinand Max' baby, the latter Max of Mexico. Kill of his dullard older brother, make him Emperor, and voila. Him being much more liberal than Franz Josef won't hurt, too.