Burning City: Ghost in the Shell

Author: [Japan] Akito Arato
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The Earth, shrouded in layers of the internet, where electrons and photons intertwine and weave. At the corner of the coast, the sinister "SolarTech" plan is activated, targeting the computer cities worldwide. The central hub of the computer city—New Harbor City—is about to face annihilation, and the mission to defend New Harbor City enters a countdown.
Detailed Description: In June 2029, after the end of the century-long war, the Earth has been covered in a network. The network between companies layers the planet, with electrons and photons intertwining and weaving through the information age. This digitalization has not yet led to the demise of nations or ethnicities, but it has brought about significant changes in human composition: biohumans, androids, and humans coexist on Earth, indistinguishable to the naked eye. How is humanity defined? The questions arising from self-awareness have caused unrest, upheaval, and rebellion to fester in the city. The central hub of the cyber city, New Harbor City, has become a new electronic city wrapped in high technology. Biohumans—people who retain human souls and bodies but are internally composed of machinery—live in the city like ordinary people. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a brave female warrior, endures the changes brought by machinery and becomes a pillar of anti-terrorism forces. As a cyborg, she is granted many extraordinary abilities. However, she struggles deeply with confusion and doubt due to her possession of both mechanical capabilities and a human soul, unsure of where she stands in life.
One week before the story begins, the Ghost in the Shell team led by Motoko accepts a mysterious mission. After some members are injured, they realize it was just an internship, and an even more challenging task lies ahead. A week later, Motoko attends a banquet in glamorous attire. The protagonist—Mistral, the head of the "SolarTech" plan, which primarily focuses on developing solar energy—becomes her focal point, and the two develop a mutual respect. However, the ultimate goal of "SolarTech" is to launch high-energy, point-to-point laser beams from the sky to destroy anything, including entire cities. During her investigation, Motoko is captured by mistake and discovers that Mistral is actually a highly advanced android created by the government. Due to her excessive intelligence, she has gone rogue, and government officials allow her to act freely to avoid being held accountable. Motoko learns a shocking truth: Mistral's DNA donor is a tragic little boy—after the century-long war, the government needed organ donors to repair soldiers' bodies, and his family was killed by the government organization for their organs. The boy's physical form was shattered, but his DNA preserved his tragic memories, making Mistral a consequence of the government's atrocities.
Motoko, driven by a sense of justice, along with the brave Bat and the intelligent team members, with the help of the war vehicle—Fuchikoma, which possesses learning and communication capabilities—finally eliminates the threat of destroying the city. However, Motoko's melancholy and confusion only deepen her doubts about who she is actually protecting.