Perhaps your cautionary admonishments are unwarranted in this specific scenario.

It is logical enough to conclude that a story ending in two intelligence agents flying off for a time-sensitive meeting with a confidential informant, is an immediate prequel to the story that begins with the same two intelligence agents landing and meeting that confidential informant.

This is not quite the same situation as the end of Rogue One and A New Hope, where some people make the argument that Rogue One ends just a few minutes before ANH begins; I am not convinced by that argument, although the cinematography certain seems to be leading us there.

>>> This is not quite the same situation as the end of Rogue One and A New Hope, where some people make the argument that Rogue One ends just a few minutes before ANH begins; I am not convinced by that argument, although the cinematography certain seems to be leading us there.

The ending scene of RO is the data handoff and narrow escape of the Tantive IV with Leia, R2-D2, and C-3PO on it.

How is that not a direct continuity into the opening scene of A New Hope?

Unless there was some sort of tractor beam, the Tantive IV did, in fact, escape, and may have been able to jump to light speed. In such an event, any eventual recapture by the Star Destroyer and battle with Vader's boarding team would have looked exactly the same as the escape sequence. There's nothing definitively saying "and they were recaptured within a few minutes of their initial escape."