The Fundamental Defence Communications System (codename System 9, originally Project 788) is a covert federal system in Vekllei that provides secure high-bandwidth communications for the Federal Military Establishment through optical communication satellites and laser ground stations. The system exists because radio-based military communications are increasingly vulnerable. Today, foreign adverseries can jam transmissions, intercept signals and locate units by their emissions. Laser links are invisible to conventional detection, nearly impossible to jam and carry far more data than radio.
The system operates through a constellation of six optical communication satellites in medium Earth orbit called NAVSOUND 1-6, positioned so that at least two remain visible from any point in Vekllei’s territories. Each satellite carries laser transceivers and beam-steering systems allowing simultaneous links with multiple ground stations. The satellites present minimal radar cross-section and emit no radio signals during normal operations, making them difficult to detect or target. A joint DSRE- ASRE project (Project 786) developed the satellite platform from existing commercial satellites.
Laser ground stations at military facilities, naval bases and police outposts across the republics provide uplinks to the constellation. Each station uses adaptive optics to compensate for atmospheric turbulence and maintain stable connections in poor weather. Mobile stations aboard Maritime Service vessels and Littoral Service craft extend the network to sea.
The system’s bandwidth is much greater than conventional military radio networks, and allows transmission of reconnaissance imagery and large data files. It serves as an auxiliary for System 3 for missile warnings from System 5 to the Federal Military Establishment. All transmissions pass through the Federal Computing System’s encryption before laser transmission and are decrypted only at authorised receiving stations. The narrow focus of laser beams makes interception extremely difficult.