User blog comment:FairyRaven/Fairy Tail Chapter 453: A Father's Job, Review and Commentary/@comment-49.148.179.76-20150920123126/@comment-24546844-20150920131541

If we take in account that 8+ years ago Christina was already Blue Pegasus' transport/battle vehicle they should have at least considered the hypotesis of Alvarez having at least a fleet of similar ships. And Makarov was there so he could have investigated what kind of resources their probable enemies would have apart from "OMG the S12 are OP, we're doomed!".