A thermal-infrared imager and spectrometer is being investigated for possible
construction in the early operation of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).  Combined with
the mid-infrared adaptive optics (AO) system (MIRAO), the instrument will afford ~15
times higher sensitivity and ~4.5 times better spatial resolution (0.07") with a greatly
improved and stable Strehl ratio at 10 micron compared to the images delivered by
8m-class telescopes.  Through exploiting the large collecting area of the TMT, a
high-dispersion spectroscopy mode unrivaled by other ground- and space-based facilities
is planned.  Such capabilities offer the possibility for breakthrough science, as well
as 'workhorse' observing modes of imaging and low/moderate spectral resolution.  In this
presentation I detail the approach we followed to initially define the instrument and
some of the science cases enabled, with a particular focus on the AGN torus.