GS Transport Truck #2,013 roared back to life as driver Ken turned the key and fired it up. He and Fennekin's first Pokémon battle had been unexpected one but with an unlikely victory thanks to an error by the other trainer the pair couldn't help but have a little confidence boost as they prepared to move their second load, a shipping container packed to the brim with Poké Balls on their delivery run from the factory in Kalos to a store in Pewter City. Said container was aboard the ship GS Alto Mare and would soon be unloaded.
The sun was now shining brightly above Kanto. As Ken got back into his truck he reached into his suitcase of personal belongings and pulled out his favorite trucker hat and a pair of sunglasses. The dark blue baseball cap with a mesh back half was decorated with a graphic on the front featuring a large logo that read "Pure MC Power!" The hat was a giveaway he got at a truck show last year when visiting the MerrillChu engines booth, it featured the company's logo with a Merrill water gunning to form the "M" and a Pikachu thundershocking to make the "C" as a play on the company's hydrogen-fueled electric engines. He put both on as slide back into the driver's seat. Fennekin had maneuvered back onto the passenger seat he was fast making his own, the little fox now with a confident grin across its muzzle.
"You look ready for anything bud," Ken said while fastening his seat belt.
"Fen fen Fennekin," Fennekin replied with a smile.
The little fox was thrilled to have won his first battle with Ken as his trainer. He was now surging with enough confidence right now he was almost hoping a legendary or a mythic Pokémon would try and mess with Ken's, no, their truck. He wanted to defend it proudly.
Ken reached up for the radio as he put the truck in gear.
"GS Vermilion this is Vulpix 3 and I'm in route at the docks to get a container from the Alto Mare," Ken said. "Where do ya need me?"
"Copy Vulpix 3, get back on the road and exit into our gate," came the dispatcher. "Get in the corral and await your loading instructions."
"10-4," Ken said.
Ken and Fennekin's Truck #2,013 was a cabover model known as a 550 Dittocruiser, a type of truck that was one of the real workhorses of the world's trucking fleet. Devon Motors Industrial produced the trucks with the Dittocruiser branding coming from its proclaimed ability to be "the truck that can transform to meet any task" and "the truck that will transform your business." Devin designed the 550 and partnered with MerrillChu Fuel Cell Inc. to equip it with an ultra-efficient hydrogen full-cell system; its motor was strong enough to move any load yet because it runs on electric motors powered by an easily refillable compressed hydrogen fuel instead of diesel or gasoline the only emission it makes is pure water. Truck #2,013 may have a blue paint job but this system made it one of the greenest trucks on the road.
The 550 was the first production fuel cell commercial truck with the mechanical masters at MerrillChu's "Stunky Works" development department making sure the system got much better mileage than its fossil fuel counterparts. The Devin team meanwhile designed a truck with modular adaptability allowing the truck to switch assignments as needed. From the factory they came with a standard flatbed with built-in twistlocks that could be deployed as needed to haul container or tank loads of all kinds or install specialized equipment such as a cement mixer or dump bed. When the 550 hit the market the Devon Corporation was so impressed with its creation they announced it to world with a commercial that aired globally during the finals of the Pokémon League's Indigo Plateau Conference.
Truck companies around the world bought thousands of 550 trucks as the model rendered the old diesels obsolete the minute it reached dealer showrooms. But that was then and this is now. Devon stopped production of the 550 five years ago after MerrillChu cooked up an even more efficient fuel cell system that allowed them both to upgrade to a larger model that could haul more cargo with the same amount of fuel. The new truck was dubbed the 750 Eeveeliner and again announced with a Pokémon League commercial that proclaimed "it was time for the trucking industry to evolve." The 750 was more truck in every way compared to the 550 and most companies were now in the process of phasing out the old rigs, purchasing new Eeveeliners to replace them almost as fast as Devon could built them.
Ken was well aware his 550 was one of the trucks on the way out but he hoped to get some good use out of it before it retired. Deep down he wanted a shot in a 750 but he knew top companies like GS typically don't issue brand-new trucks to rookie drivers so he was more than willing to take what he, and now Fennekin too, could get as he started.
Ken had waited for the right opportunity just for his shot with GS. Right after he got his Commercial Driver's License a company known as NQA Trucking had offered him a chance to drive a 750 for them but the "Too Good" nature of that offer led him to turn it down. It was a good move in retrospect, talking with other drivers over the years he found NQA had a reputation as "No Questions Asked" and the company was rather shady although no one had pegged anything big on it yet. The trucking industry in general had a shadier element and Ken tried to avoid it, someone has to move cargo for Team Rocket and other nasty groups and while he heard they paid incredibly well he didn't think the quick cash was worth it. The penalties for drivers who got nailed engaging in Pokémon trafficking, or worst, were stiff and often involved serious jail time.
Ken made the turn into the GS dock area and pulled into a staging area along with a building row of other GS trucks. With the passenger window rolled down Fennekin had his head out the window again taking in the scene.
The process of unloading container ships and getting that cargo on trucks and trains is usually a complicated one involving a lot of paper work and the containers being moved off the ship into a container yard to await pickup from the various drivers and crews involved. Most of the Alto Mare's containers would do this too, specialized trucks that never left the Vermilion port and pulled heavy duty trailers that had been given the colorful nickname bomb chassis would receive most of the ship's containers and move them to the yard to await their disposition.
GS however offered the companies that shipped with it a second more express route it dubbed "T2T," direct truck to sea to truck shipping. The company took advantage of having its own trucks, containers and ships to offer a direct load and unload option where trucks pulled straight onto their docks, the container went right on the ship to sail the sea and then it went right back on a truck that departed immediately once it arrived at its destination port. These containers for this were loaded right at the back of the ship away from the others. Ken and Fennekin's Poké Balls would be one of these T2T loads. Now parked with the other trucks Ken used the pause to look over his manifest and prepare the paperwork for leaving the dock.
"Vulpix 3, you got your ears on, come back," buzzed the radio.
"This is Vulpix 3, I got ya," Ken said. "What's up?"
"This is Loading Master Werner and I'm overseeing the unloading of the Alto Mare. I see you're new and I want to brief you on getting a container. Have you done it before?"
"No sir," Ken replied.
"When the unloading begins I'm going to call trucks by the driver's handle when their container comes off the boat," Loading Master Werner said. "The back two cranes of the five assigned to the Alto Mare will be the T2T ones. If you get called first go to the front crane and go to the back one if called second. When the container is on a longshoreman will give two knocks on your cab door. When you hear that lock the container in place and go. Be ready, any delay and the system backlogs. Copy?"
"10-4," Ken said.
Ken and Fennekin looked over the dashboard of their truck. It was a sea of gauges to monitor almost every aspect of the truck's operation mixed with switches to operate all the controls. Ken reached over and flipped a switch. A hydraulic system could be heard buzzing to life.
"Dittocruiser use transform," Ken said jokingly.
"Fennekin?"
"That sound is our twistlocks coming up to hold the container," Ken told his Pokémon.
Behind them four small doors opened in the floor of the flatbed, one on each corner, before the twistlocks rose up and snapped in position. The locks were open now to allow the container to be placed atop the truck once. With a flip of a switch they would swing closed to hold the container in place once it was on the truck.
The Alto Mare was now secured to the dock. The gang plank dropped and Captain Capello walked down it carrying the two armored cases accompanied by two of the stronger members of her crew. She made her way toward the office while the process of unloading her ship began. Loading Master Werner stood on the dock, a radio attached to his uniform, as a longshoreman walked up.
"We're ready," the longshoreman said.
"Alright, let's do this," Loading Master Werner said as he reached for his radio. "All drivers stand by. Eyes in the Sky are you all set for action."
High above the dock the two crane operators were in their cabs and prepped for the task ahead. They radioed back to the loading master.
"This is the Left Eye," said the male operator of the front crane. "I'm feeling high and mighty but I'm not flighty."
"This is the Right Eye," said female operator of the rear crane. "I'm on top of the world and ready to boogie."
"Let's get it started," Loading Master Werner said, now pulling out a tablet to track the loads. "Unloading is now beginning. Rattata 4 and Pikachu 1 you're on!"
The two cranes swung in to grab the first two containers as the respective trucks drove up to the ship. In just seconds the containers were off the boat and coming down to the respective trucks. Before the loads were even on the ground the call had already gone out for the next two trucks. Time is money and the moment one truck left another had to be ready to take the next container.
"Squirtle 3 and Growlithe 5."
Ken readied himself in his driver's seat as Fennekin looked on. All they could do is wait now. With each radio call another two trucks sped to the cranes.
"Charmander 14 and Weedle 1."
"Pikachu 8 and Poliwhirl 3."
"Vulpix 3 and Emolga 1."
That was their cue. Ken threw the truck in gear and drove out onto the docks with the second driver, likely a Unova native given that handle, following behind. A longshoreman with a pair of flashlights directed him into position as he brought the truck to a stop. Ken and Fennekin had just a moment to look as the crane pulled their container off the ship and hoisted it toward their truck. The container had a blue and gold color scheme, matching the truck. The dock crew directed it down and with a loud clank the truck shuttered as its cargo was put in place. The pair heard the two knocks on their door. It was go time.
Ken flipped another switch in the cab and the twistlocks turned shut. The container was locked in place. He proceeded to drive toward the exit of the docks where a guard flagged him down as was standard procedure. Once he stopped another guard with a Poochyena on a leash quickly walked the canine around the truck as he did a security check.
"What's aboard?" the guard asked as Ken showed him the manifest.
"I've got a load of Poke Balls bound for Pewter City," Ken said.
The guard looked it over than looked at the container. His partner's Poochyena gave a bark of approval.
"Alright, this checks out,"
"You're clear to leave. Drive safe."
"Thank you," Ken said.
Truck 2,013 drove out of the gate and proceeded out of the port and back toward the highway. Ken adjust the truck's radio off the harbor frequency.
"Dispatch, this is Vulpix 3, we're westbound and down with all wheels a rollin' bound for Pewter over," Ken said.
"Roger Vulpix 3," the dispatcher said.
Ken turned to Fennekin to check on him. He had his head out the window again. He decided to let the little fox do it until they got to the highway and he had to speed up. Ken looked at the clock on his dash. It was now 1:30 p.m. They had five and a half hours to get to Pewter City.
"This is where it gets interesting," Ken said. "Route 52 here we come."
The 550 picked up speed but as it left the Vermilion City docks a second GS-liveried truck passed it going in the opposite direction. The truck was Truck #9, one of the company's newest 750 Eeveeliners. The cargo area contained a tanker as the truck pulled up to the GS offices before the driver parked and entered them.
Inside the office Captain Capello, her crew members, and the clerk were waiting for him.
"Alright, he's here," said the clerk. "Captain. This is the driver you are waiting for. Meet haul master Peter Biltmore from Saffron City, he's the one of the best we've got."
"With this load I hope he is," Captain Capello said.
"I assure you I am Captain," Peter said. "They don't give you the rank haul master unless you can handle the big and valuable. You've got to be a serious trouble shooter and I am."
"Peter here is assigned to go pick up a load of Miltank milk from a dairy in Cerulean City," the clerk said. "Once its aboard he's trucking it to some cheese makers in Pallet Town."
"Which means I've got the most discreet truck in the fleet to take this load with it to Oak's lab in Pallet alongside that innocuous cargo," Peter said. "Ready for the transfer?"
"Indeed I am," Captain Capello said as she handed both of the armored cases to Peter.
Peter put the cases down. Captain Capello pulled a key out from her pocket then handed it to Peter.
"This is the only key we have for these cases," Captain Capello said.
"Don't worry Captain," Peter said. "I've hauled riskier before and I've stocked the truck with some of my most skilled Pokémon to guard it."
Peter used the key to open the first case. The contents gave off a red glow. It contained five brand-new Capture Stylers, a Pokémon Ranger's tool of choice for temporarily taking control of any wild Pokémon. Transport of these Stylers was heavily monitored to assure they didn't end up in the wrong hands. Peter closed and locked the case. He then opened the second case and his jaw almost dropped.
"Wow," Peter said. "I never thought I'd even see one of these in person."
"It's the most we've ever had in one place at one time," Captain Capello said. "That's the reason we need stiff protection."
"I'll make sure these get where they need to," Peter said as he closed and locked the case.
"Good luck," Captain Capello said. "We have some unusual pings on our radar earlier. There's satellite tracking on the cases as a backup and we think they may have been trying to find it by using that signal."
"Do you think they are on to us?" Peter said.
"No," Captain Capello said. "But use extreme caution, it goes without saying what people will do to get these cases."
"I will," Peter replied, locking the cases. "The next time these cases get opened will be in Pallet Town."
Peter discreetly walked back out to Truck #9 with the two cases and put them aboard his rig before departing. Unfortunately he had no idea he was being watched.
"Okay, the driver is out with two black cases, I can't tell the contents," a voice said into a cell phone. "Could be your stuff, could be his clothes. Who knows. The vehicle is Truck #9 anyway."
The person on the phone started walking away from the GS dock hoping he wasn't noticed. A mark on his uniform indicated he was a driver for NQA.
"Well, it's the best lead we've got and you'll be rewarded well for it," the voice on the phone said. "Get your load and get out of there. On our end we'll set the cheese and let this little Rattata come right to the trap. We'll watch for that truck in Cerulean City. Giovanni will be most pleased if we pull this heist off."