While Motoko and Batou were in Berlin, the Dejima refugees have declared independence and want a separate state.  Section 9 believes that Kuze is the mastermind behind all this.  The Major hacks into a refugee's cyberbrain and tracks down Kuze's hub with the Tachikomas but she's in for a surprise once she's crossed his ghost line.  She's able to withdrawn with some information that will lead them to him but not without leaving her with problems after touching on his delusions.  Section 9 heads out to a harbor with some of the new recruits along.  They wind up in a trap as they find that Kuze is not anywhere near the place.  One of the recruits is killed due to Motoko's sloppy handling of the job.  At least they get a lead that he is trying to buy plutonium from the Russian mafia out of the fiasco.