"That's a negative, Third Fleet," Conrad replied.
He looked toward the Anchorage side of the tactical picture.
"Anchorage is under hostile occupation by infected. We call them zombies over here."
He almost said zombies from the beginning and left it at that. Then again, he had no idea what the Albians called them.
The other side went silent.
Conrad waited for their response.
A fleet carrying damaged ships and civilians could not keep circling outside Ashington forever. Whatever supplies they had brought with them were still finite, and several of their ships already looked like they needed a proper port more than another week at sea.
The reply eventually returned.
"We know the infected."
Admiral Smith's voice was clearer this time.
"But they are not what forced Third Fleet out of Alban waters."
Conrad's expression changed slightly. That only raised another question.
Smith didn't explain further and instead, continued.
