State Signal
Gāode Monastery to be connected to the grid
One of the last communities which are not connected to the modern grid, the Gāode Monastery, which resides on the side of Green Mountain will be integrated into Trong's power and communications network in the coming weeks.
The monastery, home to the reclusive Gāode monks for a couple centuries, has long been a symbol of “peaceful devotion” and “pre-digital tradition”. However, officials stress that isolationism is no longer compatible with the nation’s vision for total synchronization and integration.
The Gāode have taken a vow of silence, to protest what they see as an invasion of their own faith and privacy, but have shown no resistance towards the project.
Engineer Ma Xu, who has been assigned to oversee the project alongside state-of-the-art artificial intelligence androids commented on the matter:
This is not an invasion of faith, on the contrary, we are tasked to ensure that all Trongian citizens are walking with us in harmony, regardless of their faith. This is just standard procedure, to ensure our machines and algorithms work accordingly, we must take the steps necessary, such as connecting places like these, where large amounts of people reside to the grid.
The modernization efforts will include:
- Installation of power terminals and signal towers
- Fiber-optic links to the internet grid
- Standard security measures, such as recording cameras, motion sensors and a perimeter, with ID scanners to ensure no foul players will enter the facility.
The monks themselves have given a cryptic written statement to the State Signal, which said "Silence is sacred, and light is not always illuminating. We do not resist the future, but we ask it to walk with quiet feet."
Local pilgrims and travelers have also voiced their concerns, questioning if this modernization project will destroy an ancient belief, but the officials have answered their questions, stating that any disruption to the monks' way of life will be only temporary, and will be minimized.
