A doomsday launch is a type of weapon tactic where, in a last-ditch effort to make the most effective use of all firepower before some limiting factor is introduced, like a disaster or counterattack that would prevent the launch. In ancient Human slang, left over from the primitive era of the planet Earth when nuclear weapons were used, this was called the nuclear option.
In the principle of mutual assured destruction, such options and doomsday tactics were theorized to likely cause the extinction of both sides in a conflict, making the weapons of mass destruction useful only as a deterrent to prevent the opposition from using their weapons. In this scenario, logic demanded the weapons be maintained, but never used.
History and specifics[]
A commander with doomsday launch capability was Cleric Zaka, a holographic character representing a faction of a simulated race in a variation of the Kobayashi Maru scenario for prospective senior staff-ranking individuals training for Federation Starfleet positions at the dawn of the 25th century. When Seven of Nine was taking this commander's test in the early 2400s decade, Zaka used a communicator to signal Zaka's Central Command for an immediate "doomsday launch". The opposing side, led by Prelate Zhom, then called upon their side to begin firing forward batteries without further preparations. The holoprogram ended as a failure. (PIC - Stargazer comic: "Issue 1")
- Since the species and participants in the holoprogram were likely fictional, the brief scene where the doomsday launch was called for did not expound upon their nature or location.