In 2032, humans and machines have crossed their frontier. The crimes committed by flesh-and-metal cyborgs are investigated by Section 9, an elite counter-terrorist squad led by Chief Aramaki and his cyborg assistant, Major Motoko Kusanagi. Although they've faced many challenges in the real world and cyberspace, nothing compares to The Awakened, a group of lethal terrorists who can take over people's minds and bodies. When Major Kusanagi captures one of their victims, she hacks into his cyberbrain to learn more about them. This leads her on a journey through cyberspace that challenges her beliefs and forces her to confront the dark side of technology.
Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex was published as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex by Dark Horse from May 24, 2006 to January 2, 2007.