I'm trying to keep Apollo in the game here, not cuddling with Aphrodite for 4 hours.
I'm claiming that a *properly functioning* AI can:
a) Measure and report the rate of air loss using 41st century technology. I assume you'll give me that one.
b) Can *estimate* how much air it takes for four average humans to remain conscious in a room the size of a raider. This would be a simple database lookup/calculation. No active measuring required. Apollo says "about 3 minutes". I made it imprecise on purpose.
c) Can calculate how long until 0 air (certain death to humans) using the same tech as in item a) above.
d) Can calculate what the *minimum* time is to get towed into the Marcus Decianus and repressurized from zero. It requires knowing how fast two ships are approaching each other (sensors), how long to tow the raider inside (tractor beam math 101), and how long to repressurize a raider (a known quantity for raiders since they pressurize/depressurize in combat all the time). It's a little complex, but if we can nudge a satellite into the orbit of a fast-moving planet millions of miles away, then it should be a piece of cake.
Now, let's look at variables. There aren't many.
The big one is rate of air loss. Did the cushion slip position and result in a *better* job of reducing air loss? Perhaps, but the sucking action of outer space means there's very little chance the cushion moved. Maybe I have my science wrong; wouldn't be the first time. If I'm right, then Apollo (correctly) ignores the possibility of a change in the rate of air loss.
Another variable is the speed of the Decianus in getting the raider aboard. The AI is calculating the *minimum* time required, based on the speed of the two approaching ships, and the fastest course the Decianus could take to position itself with the tractor beam. It could take longer, in which case the size of the miracle goes up. If it takes less than seven minutes, then there is no miracle. I'll work on that when my head isn't fried.
