[Goose]

I don't think she started out trying to deceive anyone. However, when the system wouldn't work she refused to accept that and went ahead as though it did, perhaps believing they were only a few tweaks away from success.

I guess that is plausible IF she never told anybody that it DID work. If she ever lied about that, she can't use the defense that they thought they would get there but has a few kinks to work out. I suspect the Feds have plenty of evidence she in fact did misrepresent their progress. An altruist doesn't do that. Secrecy can be defended as a means to protect technology only if you aren't misrepresenting that technology. If you are, that secrecy becomes evidence of guilt.

[Goose]

I don't think she started out trying to deceive anyone. However, when the system wouldn't work she refused to accept that and went ahead as though it did, perhaps believing they were only a few tweaks away from success.

I guess that is plausible IF she never told anybody that it DID work. If she ever lied about that, she can't use the defense that they thought they would get there but has a few kinks to work out. I suspect the Feds have plenty of evidence she in fact did misrepresent their progress. An altruist doesn't do that. Secrecy can be defended as a means to protect technology only if you aren't misrepresenting that technology. If you are, that secrecy becomes evidence of guilt.