Jericho 2

The military forces of the new Allied States of America (ASA), which now govern most of what was formerly the Western United States, have restored order to Jericho and its surrounding region, putting an abrupt end to the conflict between Jericho and its rival town, New Bern. As a sense of normality returns to town, the plot shifts away from the day-to-day survival to life and political intrigue under the ASA government. Known only to Hawkins and a select few, the September attacks were neither a foreign nor domestic terrorist act, but a conspiracy of unknown perpetrators within the highest level of the former U.S. government. Hawkins must calculate his every move to avoid capture, to piece together the trail of evidence, and, ultimately, to bring the truth to light before the conspiracy's mastermind buries it forever. Meanwhile, Jericho's residents deal with the reality of the new ASA government based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Initially welcomed as saviors, the government's military and mercenary agents transform life in Jericho into a repressive police state, under the leadership of a private security contracting firm, Jennings & Rall. When a Ravenwood contractor kills Bonnie, a beloved deaf farm girl from the outskirts of Jericho, to conceal his embezzlement, the town is put on the edge of open revolt as Jake and the deputies protect Mimi, the only witness to Bonnie's murder, and the embezzlement. Hawkins unsuccessfully attempts to transport the bomb to his contacts in the reborn Republic of Texas. The ASA military is tipped off and, after a brief chase, seize the weapon. Hawkins narrowly escapes. The ASA military then transport the weapon to Cheyenne for safe keeping. Hawkins makes contact with Jake; and the two travel to Cheyenne, where they retake the bomb from J&R contractors. Hawkins is wounded in a brief gun battle. The two make it to the Republic of Texas embassy in Cheyenne with the only undetonated bomb (in ASA territory) from the September attacks. The ASA's military is right behind them. The Republic is considered the swing state in the struggle for power between the Eastern United States, now governed from Columbus, Ohio, and the Allied States; the ambassador manages to secure a small jet to carry Jake, Hawkins, and the device there. While en route, two ASA F-15 fighter jets intercept Jake and Hawkins and order them to turn around or be shot down. When Jake refuses to be escorted back to Cheyenne, the two jets drop back to open fire. Suddenly two Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighters appear and shoot down the ASA planes. Jake and Hawkins make it to Texas with the evidence, and Hawkins ominously intones that a Second American Civil War was always coming and that the two of them have made history by giving the United States a fighting chance in the war to come. MORE