Ghost in the Shell (GHOST IN THE SHELL)

In the near future, electrons and light flow freely,

and corporate computer networks eclipse the stars.

Despite great advances in computerization,

countries and races are not yet obsolete...

To all patrolling air units. A 208 is in progress...

... in the C-13 district of Newport City.

The airspace over this area will be closed. Repeat:

To all patrolling air units. A 208 is in progress...

... in the C-13 district of Newport City.

The airspace over this area will be closed. Repeat...

There's no need for concern. Our country is quite capable of covering its tracks.

That's where you need me, right?

Depends on how you look at it

At any rate, any program has its bugs. And I would think a man of your capability could cure our problem.

You don't understand.

We aren't even sure that Project 2501 really is a bug.

Originally the purpose of this project was to...

Major Kusanagi, Section 6 is in position and ready to move in.

- Major, are you there? - Yeah, I heard you.

I'm surprised you can hear anything. What's with all the noise in your brain today?

It must be a loose wire.

Don't you think there's going to be trouble later if Section 9 interferes with Section 6?

If Section 6 manages to catch the bastard then all he can really do about it is deport him.

Don't forget we're Section 9, we'll clean it up. We're the ones who get our hands dirty.

It's time now. Let's move to the rendezvous point.

What? The police here? Huh?

Stop it! Who told you to fire? Put your guns down now! Freeze!

Get your hands up! I'm entitled to diplomatic immunity. I want to talk to the person in charge here.

Taking classified programmers out of the country...

compromises national security.

We can also have you brought up on kidnapping charges.

You have no choice, let him go.

Not possible. Mr. Dida wants political asylum from us...

... and we have his signed affidavit!

- What! - I don't have to explain!

My country has the right in accordance with international law...

to offer anyone protection and safe passage.

The affidavit is at the embassy.

I'll send you a copy in a couple of days.

Daita you'll be killed if you return.

I am warning you to watch your comments.

Our country is a peace-loving democracy.

Of course, it is.

The window! Shoot!

I don't believe it. Therm-optic camouflage...

Well there, Aramaki. This is quite a surprise

So what business brings the chief of Section 9 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

I need to ask you about the secret talks scheduled...

with the Gavel Republic tomorrow.

Procedure of course.

Well the regime that took over Gavel after the revolution demands financial aid.

Supposedly for redevelopment.

They boast democracy but they are no better than the last lot.

Now they feel entitled to funds because of our

past exploitation. No gratitude.

What's the ministry going to do?

Well, there is a problem. The leader of the former hunter that controlled their country

... is here seeking political asylum.

You mean Col. Maless, correct?

Yes, and that means we either deny Gavel the funds

and treat Maless as a political refugee or help them...

and kick him out.

Personally, I'm inclined to deport him forcibly if necessary.

But I'd have to come up with a politically acceptable reason for it

By the way I want to thank you for your help with that other political asylum situation

Nakamura from Section 6 wasn't so grateful.

But you realize that we in the diplomat business must avoid messy situations

Access.

We've lost response. What's happened to the EEG output?

It's normal. I'll switch to sim-ex mode.

In case you haven't been briefed, this is the Minister's interpreter.

23 minutes ago, her brain was hacked into through a data-line.

Foreign Intelligence warned us about this. A hacker called

the Puppet Master has begun to infiltrate

terminals throughout our network.

We believe it's extremely likely that he will target the secret talks

that are scheduled with the republic of Gavel.

As a precaution, we put everyone attending the talks under surveillance.

It's my suspicion that once he hacked into her ghost...

he'd use her to assassinate the key delegates.

So how much time do we have before this hacker breaks through her barrier program and reaches her ghost?

Roughly two hours. He is using an old fashioned HA-3 virus

After that, we'll have to break the connection to avoid any danger to the system

Batou and Ishikawa are tracking the signal source from their car.

Contact them.

You know, I don't know what is going on. Mind filling me in Major?

Are we talking about the Puppet Master, the infamous mystery hacker?

Well, we don't know a lot either.

No clue about age, sex or background.

We think that he or she is American. And its the first time

he's known to show up here. All we know for certain

is this person is on the international most wanted list

for crimes including stock manipulation,

illegal information gathering, political engineering,

several acts of terrorism. So why the nick-name?

The nick-name Puppet Master comes from the ghost hacking.

Well, if he's so skilled, how come he using an outdated HA-3 virus?

Think about it a minute, you'd have to figure he is either covering his tracks or decoying us

even though a more current technique would be harder to trace, it might also arouse suspicion about Col. Maless' role in this affair.

Are you saying that's the reason he is using an old method? Just so no one would suspect Maless?

Or maybe this is all an elaborate ruse to make us think in that direction.

There's always a chance that Maless is a pawn in this setup.

Now you're stretching it. It's not like you have any hard evidence.

Nope, no evidence.

Just a whisper. I hear it in my ghost.

Which reminds me, are you still using that revolver?

You should stop worrying about the automatics jamming up.

I like my Matever.

Well the effective stopping power is...

... more important than your preference in guns.

Since it's my ass on the line out there,

use the Zastaber.

Yes Major. There's something I've wanted to ask ever since I started.

Why did you transfer a guy like me from the police force?

Because we need a guy like you.

Huh?

Number one: you're an honest cop. Number two: you've never stepped out of line, three you're a family man

and except for the slight brain augmentation, your body is almost completely human.

If we all reacted the same way, we'd be predictable

... and there is always more than one way to view a situation.

What's true for the group is also true for the individual.

It's simple.

Over-specialize and you breed in weakness.

It's slow death.

- Dammit, come on! - I'll be right there!

Arggh! For Christ sake. We're already 40 seconds late! - Will you hurry it up.

Hang on I'm almost done. It's gotta be one of those days.

Hey, sorry pal.

My last partner got busted working as an illegal alien.

Couldn't speak English but he was a lot better than you are!

So what are you trying to find out so bad...

you gotta ghost hack in your wife's mind for?

My wife never has any time, now all of a sudden she wants a divorce.

And to make matters worse, my daughter, my only kid,

got it in her head that I'm the one cheating on her mom!

What I don't get is how did you got your hands on a barrier breaker?

From this really nice fellow. I was in a bar and he overheard my sob story.

I mentioned that my wife's lawyer stopped me from seeing her, my daughter.

He must have felt sorry

because he showed me how to hack in from different places along the route.

It's harder to trace.

Hey asshole! You think you own the damn road?

It looks like we not the only ones who are in a hurry around here.

Nothing. Shit.

What's the point in us breaking our butts everytime we get to the source

... they're already long gone.

We're just wasting our time.

Don't quit yet.

Kusanagi and Togusa are heading to the next area...

the hacker is expected to access from. Stay alert.

What are we looking for, Chief?

Anything.

Like I said. A waste of time.

Damn it all to hell!

Arggh shit! I missed him.

Hey, Pops. Did you see anyone using the phone over here?

So who wants to know?

Just answer me. Did you see someone or not?

Yeah, I saw the thrash man making a call.

So I thought I had enough time to bring my garbage down.

Hey! Can you take this for me?

A thrash truck? Clever. It changes location every seven minutes.

HQ! Patch me target info from the district controlling that truck.

Eight refuse collection vehicles are on duty in the surveillance area.

The target is number 58. A type C vehicle.

Give me the wheel.

Ishikawa, go check out the thrash collectors homes.

Batou, cut the truck off at its next stopping point!

It's possible they have come into contact with someone. Follow them, but take no action. Got it?

17+1

We've got the data on the refuse collection points.

All points corresponds to those locations where we traced back the calls.

The target has now stopped at the next point HA-3 access confirmed.

Hey!

How about if I pick up the trash in the second half of our round, you make the calls?

Well?

Ain't no way I'm gonna be your partner in crime.

It's your wife, you handle her.

- Tell me, have you got have any children of your own? - You must be kidding.

Then I guess you can't understand

how a father would feel about his little girl.

She's my beautiful precious angel. See?

Get away. I'm not interested in crap like that.

Yeah, vehicle 58. Yeah, what can I...? What's that?

What do the cops want to know our rounds for?

How would I know? Why are you asking me?

Oh my God! They found out! The guy who helped me, I gotta warn him!

- Listen we're gonna have to pass the next pick up! - What?

Target has deviated from route and is heading toward next designated point at increased speed.

It wasn't me. There's no way I could have been spotted.

They probably traced me when I accessed the Sanitation Dept. network

Next time use the back door.

Forget that now. Just arrest him.

You can drive now.

Christ! What the hell's he using? That van was armored.

Watch it, he's got high-velocity bullets! Your car door won't stop them!

HV ammo in a submachine pistol? He's insane.

This guy's even wearing some kind of thermoptics!

Keep on his tail! I'll come around from the top!

Togusa, if you're still alive, get off your ass and arrest those garbage men.