Henry doubts the apparent account of the battle because a force credited with a devastating opening strike then waited ninety seconds before the Drifters fired. He suspects that omitting this interval from otherwise authentic sensor footage could hide the reason to question that account. The full record would not prove innocence, but it would provide enough doubt to justify talking to the accused side before going to war. His officers also challenge whether fear and personal anger are shaping his interpretation. With unidentified fighters approaching the damaged Raven, the crew cannot settle those questions before deciding how to defend itself. A warning sets a boundary of 750,000 kilometers and states that fighters entering it will be fired upon.
Notable Point · 2:12:24-2:14:41
Selective sensor footage can conceal grounds for doubt
In Raven's Course, ninety seconds of unexplained inactivity could justify talks before war. Removing those seconds makes the apparent attack harder to question.