 After another power cut, all Jericho sees missiles in the air, but whose? An Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) has massively shut down electronics. A fast-rising problem may overtake the technical disaster: men, boys, even females become increasingly defensive, possessive and even aggressive, social order and community spirit are in danger of breaking down. Jake is determined to handle it, including horse theft by the Mitch Cafferty gang, but his father the mayor insists the Greens at least must respect the law while trying to uphold and enforce it. Largest farmer Stanley refuses to simply share his crop, and is falsely accused of stealing pesticides. Even good boy Dale is initiated in the Cafferty gang during a raid on the Green ranch, but switches back after a talk with forgiving Jake.