Norwegian Ninja

Black Pete was removed after he sabotage Bumblebee during the orienteering race that determined who would earn a full ninja designation. When Treholt discovered Pete attacking Bumblebee instead of competing fairly, he made the decisive call to expel Pete from the force, allowing Bumblebee to win by default. This decision also served Treholt's political interests, as removing the troublesome Pete aligned with his growing ambitions within the hierarchy.

Pete's earlier sabotage foreshadowed his complex loyalty arc, as he would later secretly aid the ninjas despite being expelled.

When Stay Behind launched a devastating aerial and ground assault on Gressholmen, Treholt devised a strategic deception to buy time and allow the team to regroup. He disguised Bumblebee as himself and had Bumblebee arrested in Treholt's stead, which confused Stay Behind's forces and gave the ninjas precious time to retreat to Ragnhild's workshop in the Lofoten mountains. This risky ruse ultimately gave them the advantage they needed to plan their counterattack.

Treholt's earlier confidence in Bumblebee during the induction ceremony hinted at the deep trust that would make this sacrifice possible.

Stay Behind was a covert NATO operation designed to assume control in wartime emergencies. However, in 1983 they were planning a peacetime coup in Norway. The group possessed significant military resources, including weapons stashes and the ability to orchestrate attacks like the bombing of Oslo Central Station, which they framed to blame the Russians. Their reach extended to targeting critical infrastructure like the Alexander Kielland oil rig and even the royal family.

The field manual Treholt seized from Otto Meyer revealed hints of false-flag operations, foreshadowing Stay Behind's willingness to manipulate events for political control.

Operation Saga Night was the new covert initiative ordered by King Olav V after he became frustrated with Stay Behind's repeated interference with the Ninja Force. The operation was designed to counter Stay Behind's coup plot and reshape Norway's covert warfare capabilities. Treholt used this mission to align his team around a larger plan while also advancing his own political ambitions for future leadership.

King Olav's direct order of Saga Night signaled the crown's willingness to openly challenge Stay Behind, escalating the conflict between legitimate authority and the shadow network.

After the Oslo Central Station bombing, which the CIA blamed on the Russians, Treholt traveled to Vienna to verify evidence of Stay Behind's involvement in the attack. He met with KGB members to gather intelligence, a dangerous move that risked making him appear as a traitor. His goal was to confirm whether Stay Behind had orchestrated the bombing as a false-flag operation to justify their coup.

This risky intelligence mission demonstrated Treholt's willingness to operate in moral gray zones, a trait that would define his character throughout the conflict.

The Ninja Force, Treholt, Bumblebee, Tromsø, and Coachman, rushed to the Alexander Kielland oil rig when Stay Behind targeted it. They managed to locate the bomb and confront the saboteur, but were ultimately unable to prevent the rig's destruction. The incident demonstrated Stay Behind's reach and capability, showing that the ninjas couldn't always stop every threat despite their skills.

The rig's destruction marked a turning point, showing Stay Behind's willingness to attack Norwegian infrastructure and escalating the conflict to a new level.

In the final confrontation high above Oslo City Hall, Otto Meyer attempted to plant a bomb on the building. Treholt retrieved a shuriken hidden around Meyer's neck, which contained a listening device they had been using for surveillance, and used it to knock Meyer from the building, stopping the bombing attempt. Meanwhile, police had been dispatched to Meyer's home to seize his weapons stash, and Treholt's allies worked to eliminate other Stay Behind leaders.

The shuriken's retrieval connected back to earlier ninja operations, showing how their tradecraft proved decisive in the final confrontation.

The shuriken was a hidden listening device that Treholt had secretly attached around Meyer's neck during their confrontations. This allowed the ninjas to monitor Meyer's communications and movements. When Treholt confronted Meyer at Oslo City Hall, he retrieved the shuriken, using it as both evidence of his surveillance and as a weapon to knock Meyer off the building.

The device demonstrated Treholt's meticulous planning and long-term strategy against Stay Behind's leadership.

Bumblebee revealed he had served time in jail as a conscientious objector before Treholt recruited him into the Ninja Force. This personal backstory deepened his connection to Treholt's vision and added complexity to his role within the team. It also humanized Bumblebee, showing that even those with peaceful backgrounds could become capable ninjas under the right leadership.

This revelation came around the Vienna trip, adding layers of trust and understanding between Treholt and Bumblebee that made later sacrifices possible.

Treholt confided in Bumblebee that he saw himself eventually stepping into a leadership role beyond his position as commander of the Ninja Force. This ambition subtly governed many of his choices throughout the conflict, including his strategic decisions during Operation Saga Night and his willingness to take risks that advanced both the mission and his political standing.

Treholt's growing ambition was seeded early and drove much of his controversial decision-making throughout the story.