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Messina, Sicily October 7, 1571

The Holy League Fleet was in no condition to fight.

Typhus, clap, diarrhea, small pox, etc, had afflicted the entire fleet that had been assembled to fight the Ottomans.

Now the Ottomans were placing Messina under new management and collecting the surviving Holy League Ships as prizes of war.

The man responsible for arranging such an evil fate, Spymaster Gregory Barton, watched the operation from one of his many brothels. He made a note to himself to get rid of the girls who had the clap from his brothels and bring in fresh fruit that he had not infected before hand by soaking in feces filled water.

Further it was time to move on to other assignments...

October 17, 1571

Ten days after seizing Messina, the Ottoman Fleet was preparing to complete the conquest of Sicily. Of the 40,920 men of the Holy League, only 23,878 had survived the bio warfare of Gregory Barton, the Ottoman Empire's newest weapon. Of these survivors, 18,489 were too sick to fight and a health hazard. All the sick were thus quickly killed and their bodies burned.

Of the Holy League Fleet that consisted of 206 galleys, 6 galleasses, and 76 Sailing Ships: 46 Galleys were destroyed by their remaining crews, two of the six galleasses were burnt, and 30 of the 76 sailing ships were also burnt. Also 40% of the Holy League artillery was spiked so that the Ottomans could not use them against their enemies.

The surviving and well members of the Holy League then abandoned Messina with whatever they could haul. Unfortunately for them it included infected food and whores that Gregory Barton was getting rid of. None of the marchers survived to reach another city.

Still Kaptan-ı Derya Ali Pasha had won a grand victory and could write to Selim II of how this victory wiped away the shame of the defeat at Malta just six years earlier.

Several problems faced Ali Pasha in his planned conquest of Sicily.

1. He had only 34,000 soldiers, only a few were professional Janissaries.

2. Sicily is too big to blockade with his fleet.

3. A long sea supply line subject to attack.

4. Winter is approaching.

5. Sicilian Terrain is rather rugged.

6. He kept his word to his Gallery Slaves and freed them. He doesn't have enough healthy slaves to man the boats and nor does he have the money to hire back the freed slaves.

Despite these problems, Ali Pasha proceeds with his plans. In another month, he will have reinforcements of some 23,000 men, to be followed by another 50,000 in the spring once they could be recruited and trained.

More importantly, he will receive the money he needs to hire back the freedmen.

For the time being, Ali Pasha throws up defense works and prepares winter quarters.
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