Set in 2029 Japan after world war IV, a specialist team of primarily cybernetic hackers known as "Section 9" take on complex missions to ensure public safety. During the course of "ghost hacking" (launching one's consciousness into machines and cyborgs), it is discovered that the hyper-technological internet of that time has spawned a sentient entity who wants amnesty from being deleted. Major Kusanagi of Section 9 uses her skills and finesse in negotiation to reason with it for a solution to it's existence... and it's intent for mankind.