Chapter 220: No More Erdek

"Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to- be respected arguments of the rights of kings."

-        Frederick the Great of Prussia, 1712AD – 1786AD 

Antonius wasted no more time drawing back his forces laying siege to the different strategic spots on the Peninsula of Erdek, and laid anchor sailing north on the last day of August, going back to the Prince islands, the place where he started his conquest as a victor, a conqueror, on the second of September. 

The situation on the islands has been stabalised under the efforts of Anjelo, with the lands and boats being redistributed among the people they quickly got themselves back into the normal production cycles returning to the daily walks of life, ensuring a stable food source on the islands. And the market that Antonius wanted Anjelo to build is also slowly showing progress, with simple trading activities going on, like the fishermen exchanging some grains with the farmers, or offering people fishes offering live catch for people to come over and help them sew their nets. Although it is still at a form of barter economy trading without currencies for goods and services, but at least Antonius now can convince himself that it is a start. 

Antonius hosted another parade of the fleet through the islands, then showing all the loot and spoils of war to his subjects, injecting the impression into the youth that if they join his forces, there will be a sea of fortune waiting for them ahead taking them out for a broad adventure for many of them who spent most of the life around the island gaping at the vast Theodosian walls of Constantinople. However, they will not get a chance to join in Antonius' fleet, at least not this time round. 

Antonius made a short stay on his lands, went through a brief inspection assigning the bitter faced Anjelo more work to do, while his fleet used the time to replenish supplies after weeks on the sea and mounting a new kind of artillery designed by the master craftsman Orban and his son Jacob, then hurried off setting sail catching the late autumn wind west into Anatolia, engaging into the plot before they are late.

The temperature on the Mediterranean is not that pleasing even in September, in the beaming sun light comes the tides of heat waves radiating towards Antonius and his men sailing helplessly on the seas with no place to hide from the toxic sun rays. 

In this blazing Mediterranean weather, they sailed to the bay of Pendik. 

The Ottoman holding in Pendik is a fortress that is improved on the base historical Roman fortress called Pantikion, with a majestic wall originally designed to protect the trading coastlines to the east of Constantinople, later shifted inwards to better solidify this area putting the Rumelian locals better under control. In the case of a revolt the fortress is designed to hold them there for at least a month before the troops arrive. 

Thus it is the reason why Orhan is unable to pluck out the bay of Pendik, with such an important fortress seating right on the strategic cross way it would be disastrous if he would go attack the bay without taking care of the fortress, but also he simply cannot command any war lord under his lead to leave the siege of Izmit and go on to lay siege to Pendik, every one is dreaming of their share of plunder when they break into the city, if Orhan ever asks them to divert their armies away, it will be no surprise if they throw a tantrum on the spot instantly rejecting the order. 

The Ottomans have already acquired information of the incoming Roman fleet from a distance, and hurriedly went to pull the anchor of the ships docked in the harbour trying to get them out of the harbour to be sunk in the opening of the bey, using advantage of the ship's remains to block the sea ways preventing the Roman fleet from coming in. There are many sailors operating in this area that are survivors from that fire of Gölcük, they know how destructive that legendary kin of Iblis can be. 

Of course, they failed, the direction of wind in this season is mostly blowing towards the west, without the help of mother nature using only human force, it would take a hell lot of time. 

Which is the element that they do not have. 

The Rumelian fleet arrived outside of the port like a swirl of wind, the Ottoman commander, also a man who survived the fire of Gölcük, commanded all his forces to use all the anti fire materials he had prepared earlier, damp cow rugs, wet linen cloths, piles of water and lots of sand, yes lots of sand for putting down fire, a lot of sand they can play with, just a pity that these sands are not from Syria. 

However, to their utter surprise, the Rumelian fleet did not charge into the port with smaller fast ships loaded with dried grass and Greek fire, instead they formed up in a line outside the port with their broad sides facing the Ottomans hiding in the port. 

Slowly some Ottomans peeked their heads out of the fire protection shelters peeking their head towards the Rumelian fleet wandering what are they doing. Slowly after a while some more Ottoman garrison forces came out from their hidings resuming with their activities, some even just stood there with Kilij blades in their hands anticipating the Rumelian to land, because they know that they have the superiority on land with the number of blades they have outmatching the Rumelian. 

Seeing this the vice commander of the Ottoman garrison hesitated and suggested his superior. "General, I do think it is better to let the boys form up on the port side to prepare for battle, there is a possibility that the Rumelian are going to dispatch land forces instead of the Greek Fire you are always so afraid of." 

His general shook his head after a few thoughts replying. "I am afraid that the Rumelian are there because of some other reasons… You heard of those artilleries the Rumelian have been using against fortress on the sea?"

"I have, but we do not have a clear intel of what happened over there, until now we still have not had a single man who survived in those Rumelian attacks and came back to us telling us what happened. Why general?" 

The commander continuously observed the Rumelian ships a far nodding heavily. "I am afraid that the Rumelian fleet might be preparing to bombard us with those artilleries." 

The vice commander frowned and dismissed the idea from his superior's hands. "How is that possible admiral, they are almost four berids away from us, how are they going to reach us with those cursed shells from such a distance?"

"You are probably right." The commander finally made up his mind and ordered the soldiers to come out of their hidings and gather around preparing for the imminent battle. 

Then only after a few minutes they knew that they are terribly wrong.

…

Antonius' fleet just had a little problem regarding the new artilleries they mounted a few days ago. When they are about to shoot, they found out that the artillery itself is being too long for the elastic puller which the sailors unable to reload their cannons, it took them a while to get this thing fixed not firing for a long time and thus giving the Ottomans the false impression and unexpectedly making them come out from their shelters. 

But now, the new big metal rods are now ready to fire. 

After the signal man noted that all ships are now hanging the 'ready to fire' flag on the mast of the ships passing the message to Antonius, he looked at the sun, looked at the Ottomans, looked at his own men and ordered shouting out loud. 

"Fire!" 

Within a few seconds over a hundred naval guns fired a series of volley shots to their designated targets on the shore with an unstoppable impact turning the tide of the seas, painting the skies in a dense scarlet burning sensation, even pushing the firing ships backwards by a few centimeters with the ship's oak keels growling in pain as it withstands the sheering fire power pounding the shores from one side. 

The shells are sent flying right through the sky above sea for almost three quarters of a Roman mile, or three bowshot's distance finding itself into the wooden port sides, stone brick buildings and most importantly the Ottoman garrison forces awaiting battle at the port side. 

The Ottoman soldiers, still standing there while the shells came at them, had little or even no time to respond as the shells came closer and closer right before their plain eyes. With only a few seconds they cannot do any thing, their feet are rooted to the ground, waiting for the shells to land right onto their bodies. 

But worry not, because this shall be a quick ending for them.