THE GHOST IN THE SHELL (攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL)

DECEMBER 24, 2029 5:26 SOUTHERN HONSHU UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

The Seburo C-25a and 26a.

They're chambered in 6x25 HV ammo and hold 50 rounds each.

When the brass catcher isn't attached to the top,

the spent casings get ejected forward from the top?

These things will probably jam in the field.

How can you say that after I spent months doing firing tests?!

Look at these blisters on my hand!

These aren't fake!

Paint them in matte. Maybe we'll use them if the chance comes up.

Wow, that's amazing!

Hey, stop that! Don't touch Section 1's tank!

Huh, only your brain is operational. No barrier, I see.

You're…

No, I… Wha…

You, me!

You… No, me!

Oh, dear!

The old man wants to see us. Come on.

I feel like I just had a realization of profound significance!

My records of the event are unclear!

It was something incredibly important!

You remember your job as my work clothes, don't you?

To the Fuchikomas, "incredibly important" means "classified as a top-priority item."

DECEMBER 24, 2029

What is it?

W-We are here to demand that natural oil be used in us!

Yeah! Yeah!

Denied.

We're tired of synthetic oil! We hate it, hate it, hate it!

Do you want trouble with ants, mold, and freezing?

Now hush and keep surveilling the subject.

But Mr. Batou puts natural oil in his Fuchikoma!

Batou is such a bonehead.

He said this sendoff would only take two minutes.

Maybe the old man's trying to sell out to their InterCom.

That, or maybe he's fallen for her.

Once the subject is secure in her terrorism-proof pod,

our security mission is over.

Then it's a straight shot by helicopter to their submarine.

Once the Halma plain has become

a city on par with your Kyushu province's capital of Fukuoka,

I will invite you to visit, Comrade Aramaki.

Sadly, I'm not as ageless as you, Methuselah.

Although our exchange produced nothing of real benefit,

which is why it meant something for us.

I will leave you with one thing of real benefit as a parting gift.

If you mean clippings from yesterday's state paper, I have it.

My replacement, Asechinov, was not chosen by the Central Committee.

It was the result of fund manipulation by Gen. Marlov, whom you know well.

That's the first bit of information I didn't already know.

It's sweet of you to lie.

Everyone, assemble at the heliport!

We're going to the Far North!

SOMEWHERE ABOVE ITORUBETSU

Koil Krasnov.

Estimated age, 26.

A cyborg that Asechinov sent into the country, huh?

He's a combat cyborg.

He has a titanium prosthetic arm hook that goes all the way up to his shoulder blade.

He's currently en route to Hokkaido on the Tohoku Maglev Express.

The Tohoku Maglev?

Why on earth would he take the train?

Weapons.

He couldn't bring any aboard if he went by plane.

Who did you assign to watch him?

- Yano. - Who's that?

A new guy that Batou sent up from the academy.

Can somebody like that handle this job?

We used to say the exact same thing about you all the time.

So if we're going in with all hands on deck,

this isn't a simple surveillance op.

In the Far North subprefecture, Sagawa Electronics Corporation

is expanding their underground factory in Itorubetsu ward.

Itorubetsu?

Where that Volgarena submarine base used to be?

I heard they used demo charges and buried it when they pulled out.

Public Security has had their eye on Sagawa,

but between their expansion zone reaching an old military base

and an agent entering the country, it's time for us to get involved.

Keep firing!

Stabilize your lower body! Your hips are too high!

You over there! Don't go for style points against a big target like a human!

Like this, brace yourself for the kick!

Batou. The Major says to come to the Far North.

Sweet deal!

I ain't cut out to be an academy instructor!

Damn it, this stupid thing jammed on me!

Dumbass! Instead of complaining, field strip it and clean it!

Itorubetsu is composed of a cluster of gigantic buildings.

It is a megacity that is 4500m high and 11-12km across.

The Far North is an old-school cyber city.

Every data broker here worth their salt is probably

collecting and researching every type of data that exists on this aircraft.

Ishikawa, meet up with Batou and take over Yano's tail.

Okay.

We'll meet up at grid-ref 4722 at 0845 hours.

Farewell, my friends! Nyom!

This Koil guy, what's he here to do?

Not to see the sights, that's for sure.

I'm more curious about

what Sagawa Electronics is hoping to find by digging up a Volgarenan base.

Borma, check out the underground factory with Togusa.

I'll check the main office.

String wires and communicate by direct link.

From here on in, don't use any wireless communication.

BAR

Fuchikoma, whatever you do, don't wander off.

O-Oh my gosh!

A No.1 Yamaton!

You'll never find this anywhere else!

I'll cut you a sweetheart deal and throw in some armor fragments to boot!

Its data is active!

MERCHANT

Anna, this guy is a lookie-loo!

Are you gonna buy it or not?!

Can I trade you this manipulator for it?

Idjit! I'm tryin' ta make a living here! Get lost!

LUBRICANT

He's dead!

Let it go, that thing was hot anyway.

Let's go back to working the red light district.

Huh?

The wire snapped.

That's not good.

Very nice indeed.

You're too kind.

Not you. I meant their optical camouflage.

It must be Kyo-Re 2902 thermal optical camo.

If it can't be picked up by Sagawa Optics cameras,

it means we have some troublesome guests.

So 2902 means Public Security Section 9, Section 6,

or Rangers Section 4.

They report directly to the Prime Minister making them immune to pressure.

The only ones immune to pressure

are the Executives of the union that control the National Council.

"Answers directly to the PM" tends to only be true on paper.

- Move up the timetable. - Yes, sir!

We're in a race against time.

Itorubetsu. Itorubetsu.

The next train has been suspended,

and there is no clear estimate of when service will resume.

Yano…

Koil was in such a rush he didn't even bother to try to shake his tail.

We need to contact the others, or they'll be in trouble.

Let's go straight to the underground factory.

Batou…

This is Batou calling the Chief! Chief!

- Answer me, a-hole! - You idiot!

Why'd you send a total rookie all alone to do this job?

If he'd been working in a two-man cell, Yano'd still be alive!

- You piece of crap! - That's enough!

Yelling at him won't solve anything.

You're the one who sent somebody who couldn't manage a tail solo.

If you feel responsible, instead of taking it out on the old man,

put everything into this investigation!

You got that?

Koil, you bastard. You're a dead man!

- Fuchikoma! - Coming!

Treat the body with respect. I appreciate it.

If he's broken, they should just fix him up!

Batou has sure been on edge lately.

It's a good thing that Togusa didn't chime in.

Die, militarist!

Miss, I can get you some new skin for cheap.

Get lost, pervert.

Hey!

Ma'am?

You remember? It's me.

I hear that the hacker Krolden is still doing his thing in here.

Step right in!

In this world, nobody likes people who are too friendly.

Because I know if I'm not on my best behavior around you,

I'll regret it big-time.

Hey, Krolden!

The lady from the Nemuro landing operation is here to see you!

Where?

Optical camouflage.