At the top of the world, there's a job like no other, one only a few dare take. The isolated Glacier Peak Island is home to a series of famous ski resorts but its big economic mover in recent years is the only mine in Sinnoh where Mega Stones can be found. For eight months of the year the mines are supplied by cargo ships but in the winter the waters around the island freeze over all the way to the mainland. When the boats can't run the call goes out for alternative transporters in the form of ice road truckers.
With a temporary road built atop the ice to link the island to the mainland, these brave truck drivers are brought in from every region to tackle the tricky assignments. Many a haul master has showed why they have that title on this run. The conditions of the road are constantly monitored, with ice-type expert trainers in high demand to help keep up its quality up but there is no way to remove all the risks. Only the bravest dare take assignments here amidst the conditions that can chill even the bravest to their core. The trucks operate out of a distribution center on the northern outskirts of Snowpoint City and this was the destination today for a familiar crew.
Farther south all was quiet along a mostly deserted stretch road north of Chocovine Town. The sun was just starting to rise and few were up this early in the morning but something big was on the move. Two beams of light cut through the fading darkness and the tiny pieces of gravel alongside the pavement started to shake from the weight of something big approaching just before a giant truck streaked past, continuing its run north. This was GS Transport Truck #653 with driver Ken Worth and his partner Fennekin looking to make up for lost time. After that fiery brush with explosive destruction in the Mount Coronet Road Tunnel, the GS crew had been forced to abandon their plans to make it all the way to Snowpoint City in one day. The truck was back on the road now, carrying a load of mining equipment north to the Glacier Point mine.
Ken and Fennekin were both a little relaxed this morning. Ken had cracked open a fresh pack of Long Haul chewing gum while his vulpine companion chewed away on a wooden stick. This was the time to cool down and enjoy a moment of calm between the tunnel insanity yesterday and the ice road ahead of them. Ken didn't expect they'd be going over the ice to the island today but he was already steadying his nerves before making that run.
"You ready for this buddy?" Ken asked his Pokémon.
"Fen," Fennekin replied. "Fennekin fen ne in."
Ken chuckled, that almost sounded like his fox's way of saying "bring it on." A new challenge awaited them.
As Truck #653 continued its trek north the flowery fields and green forests alongside the road started giving way to much whiter conditions. As the temperature dropped a light snow began to fall. It then intensified. The reality of the situation started to dawn on Ken when he spent 20 minutes stuck behind a snow plow before he arrived in Snowpoint City. The truck continued through town to finally reach its destination at the ice road distribution center. The logos on the sign in front of the building featured the GS Transport logo prominently but it was accompanied by ones for Tauros Trucking and several local Sinnoh companies.
This distribution center was first set up by Lucario Landtran, a transporter operating out of the Sinnoh's Lucario Kingdom, but it expanded to feature other brands. It had been greatly expanded of late once it became the gateway to the ice road for drivers from all companies. Ken pulled off the road and was directed to drive around back and wait for one of the facility's massive garages to open up. There were several other trucks in the same position as the snow started falling even harder. Ken looked over and noticed one truck that was definitely out of service, a cabover 550 Dittocruiser like his old rig Truck #2,013. This one though was smashed up badly, its body looked rusted, the roof was damaged, and the windows were broken out. Snow had blown into the exposed interior. Suddenly the garage door in front of him opened up and Ken was signaled to drive in. He slowly did before stopping. The heated garage was large enough for the entire big rig to be parked inside. Banners for various brands of trucks and tools decorated the walls. A mechanic holding a high-powered car wash-style sprayer knocked on the door. Ken rolled down his window.
"You another of the new guys up here?" the mechanic asked.
"Yeah, I'm Ken Worth from Kanto," Ken replied.
"Get you Poké Balls and head into the office, they've got some stuff you need to do before you can hit the ice road," the mechanic said. "I'll start prepping your truck."
"10-4," Ken replied, popping his team's balls onto his trainer belt as he climbed out of Truck #653 with Fennekin following.
"You know what's the deal with that old wrecked Dittocruiser out back?" Ken asked the mechanic.
"Oh, that wreck," the mechanic replied. "It went through the ice last season. Driver was some arrogant punk from Johto who usually drove near Snowtop Mountain and thought he knew winter better than folks up here. He drove too fast on the ice and caused a pressure wave under the surface. Broke right the top and the whole rig plunged in. Dude was lucky, he managed to grab his Poké Balls and bail out before it sank straight to the bottom. He still almost died of hypothermia before the Coast Guard rescued him with a hovercraft. He went crying back to Johto like a Houndour with its tail between its legs. After the rig was salvaged our dispatcher Lisa had that wreck dumped out back. It's a very physical warning now, that truck is a reminder that you have to play by the rules out there on the ice or you'll be dead. And you wouldn't be the first…"
Ken and Fennekin both gulped then made their way into the office. The ice road up here is nicknamed the "Froslass Freeway" and it lives up to it. As he stepped out of the garage he noted the mechanic had started power washing his truck with the sprayer. The interior of the building was modestly appointed with simple furniture and a few pictures of trucks, skiing, and cargo ships on the walls. Ken opened the door to the office of dispatcher Lisa Tli Cho. She had run this center for years and was known for being efficient but also very much not taking excuses. As Ken and Fennekin tried to step in they was almost blown back by yelling as she argued on the phone with a client.
"No, I don't know how you misplace an entire front-end loader but when our driver got there to pick it up the lot was empty," Lisa shouted. "Don't give me excuses, find out where it went and where we can pick it up…Stolen? Who would steal a loader? Why? Think Thrifty Megamart wants their parking lot cleared faster? Find that loader and call me back when you do."
Lisa hung up the phone. Her mode flipped like a switch to more professional decorum.
"Oh, the weird moments that come with living up north," Lisa said. "Who are you?"
"Ken Worth, GS Transport, and I've got a load of mining equipment headed over the ice," Ken replied. "It's my first time up here."
"Well, welcome aboard," Lisa said. "Mack Marmon told me he was sending one of his newer drivers up here. Good luck."
Fennekin looked up at Lisa only to react with stunned when a white and red fox Pokémon walked past him. It wasn't an Alolan Vulpix, oddly it looked more like a Zorua. The fox had a folder in its teeth. Ken also looked down at it. Lisa smiled as the Zorua hopped up on her desk and she took the folder from it.
"Thanks Whitey," Lisa said.
She handed the folder to Ken.
"In there are your maps, weight limits, and other basic forms detailing our ice road operations," Lisa said. "You should study them before you set off. You aren't going up today. We've got some weather moving in this afternoon and it's going to be whiteout conditions. The ice road is shut down when that happens for safety."
Ken shrugged off the delay. He looked down at Lisa's unusual Pokémon. He'd been studying up on non-Kanto Pokémon of late but this one still seemed off.
"I thought Zoruas were black?" Ken said. "Is that a shiny?"
"Nah, Whitey's a Hisuian regional," Lisa said. "They were common in Sinnoh for a bit a while back. We had an incident with a Celebi a few years ago and I found this little one hiding under a dumpster out back afterward so I took him in. It took a lot of poffins to win his trust let me tell you."
"A Hisuian Zorua?" Ken asked. "I'm not too familiar with those but I thought they were an extinct breed."
"The north country is full of surprises," Lisa replied. "You should see the rest of my team sometime. Now let's get you and your truck prepped."
As Ken and Fennekin tried to leave another driver stepped in. Ken took notice, this driver was wearing a GS uniform like his but it featured an extra embroidered "HM" logo. Only veteran haul masters got that badge of honor. Ken gave a salute, knowing he was looking at an ace in his business. The driver seemed impressed and they shook hands.
"Well, well, well, I suppose your that new rookie Mack dispatched up here," said the driver. "Are you Ken Worth?"
"I am," Ken said. "Vulpix 3 is my handle."
"Pleased to meet ya, the name's Wes Turnstar," replied the driver, also noticing Fennekin and giving him a smile too. "My handle is Chimchar 1. I've been driving for GS for the last 10 years but I've got my own truck now and I'm getting ready to set out with my own company, pretty soon everyone will know the name Turnstar Trucking in addition to GS Transport. I saw that video online and heard about your run with the Master Balls. Not bad rookie, you just may be good enough to make it up here."
"You and Wes will both be running equipment up over the ice together once the weather breaks," Lisa said. "It's never a good idea to be out on the ice alone."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ken said. "I've never done a run like this before but when a chance comes to prove yourself you have to take it."
Ken and Fennekin's afternoon was one of preparation. For Ken it started with a standard drug test, which he passed easily. Next was a weight check in a room with a one human scale and six Pokémon ones to make sure the combined weight of him and his team was all under a set limit. Again it was an easy pass. A sign on the wall highlighted that many of the heaviest Pokémon like Stonjourner, Copperajah, Snorlax, and Cetitan were actually prohibited to be aboard a truck when on the ice. The road also mandates that every driver has an ice-type Pokémon aboard and Ken's Alolan Vulpix assured they passed that test, with her powder snow attack metting the required standard to be able to produce extra ice to drive on in an emergency situation. Ken recounted already having firsthand experience driving on her ice from that road battle when she was still with Team Rocket.
With Ken and his team checked out the focus turned to Truck #653. In the garage the big blue-and-gold 750 Eeveeliner had been completely washed to remove all of its existing road grime and prevent any of it from falling onto, and thus polluting, the ice. The air lines were then winterized to keep out moisture, with temperatures this cold any water in the lines could freeze into ice and cause potential issues with the air brakes. Ken helped the mechanic install a belly tarp on the underside of the truck, it would both keep moisture from the ice out of the truck's mechanical systems and prevent anything from the truck's motor or running gear from falling down onto the ice. Another tarp was installed over the grill to help keep the truck's engine warm amidst the tough conditions, it had a gold color to match the truck's paint scheme. The truck's fuel tanks were also filled up to the brim. Ken was told once he left the garage he should not shut off the engine for any reason as they were hard to restart in the subzero temperatures that were common on Glacier Point Island.
Ken, Fennekin, their truck and their teammates were all ready to tackle the ice road, now they just had to wait for the weather to break. Unfortunately, what they didn't know was that not all of their challenges on this run would be natural in origin. Robert and Ellee of Team Rocket were on the prowl.
We're back and it's time to finally hit the ice. Sorry for the delay.
Keeping up with the truck theme naming Wes Turnstar is named after Western Star trucks (say his name fast) while Lisa Tli Cho is named after both Lisa Kelly, a driver from the old "Ice Road Truckers" TV show and the now-defunct trucking company Tli Cho Landtran, which employed the drivers on that show during the first season.
