Relatively little is known of the spy named Thelev, because he was able to commit suicide before the Federation could interrogate him after capture. He was an Orion, surgically altered to appear Andorian, who had been infiltrated into the Andorian delegation to Babel, before the conference to debate Coridan's acceptance into the Federation, Stardate 3842.3. The Orions, who were making substantial profits from illegal raids on Corridan, hoped to prevent it's admission into the Federation by inciting a war between the Federation and Andoria. Thelev's assignment was to act to cause chaos on board the Enterprise during the trip to Babel, if possible weakening its ability to respond to an attack from a disguised Orion craft on a suicide mission. He did so by assaulting and seriously wounding Captain James T. Kirk, but the captain was still strong enough (and clever enough) to lead the ship to victory during the battle. Thelev had already taken a slow-acting poison when he was brought to the Bridge to observe the battle, and was dead shortly after seeing the Captain outsmart his compatriots.