The scenario described suggests that these internal machines might be compromised and part of a botnet. They are likely attempting to reach a command and control server, which is a hallmark of botnet activity. Once part of a botnet, infected machines can be remotely controlled for malicious activities. Anomalies in external server communications often raise suspicions of such situations. Incorrect options, such as MAC spoofing and private network bridging, do not typically result in this kind of communication with unfamiliar external servers. Additionally, the scenario provided does not present any direct signs of a worm infection that would typically attempt to spread to other machines internally rather than communicate with an external server.