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 Commonwealth Armed Forces through optical communication satellites and laser ground stations. The system was developed during a tumultuous period for military signals in the 2050s, when satellite signal interference and tracking was becoming more prevalant. Although only exploited for espionage, subsequent events made clear that military radio traffic could be jammed and used to trace units in the event of war. The beam of a laser, in contrast, is basically undetectable and impossible to jam.
The system operates through a constellation of six optical communication satellites in medium Earth orbit called NAVSOUND 1-6, which are positioned so that at least two remain visible from any point across the Commonwealth Atlantic. Each satellite carries a laser transceiver and beam alignment system that allows multiple simultaneous links with multiple ground stations. These satellites have basically no radar cross-section, which makes them difficult to detect (and target). The platform was a product of a joint DSRE- ASRE project (Project 786) that developed the satellite platform from existing commercial COMSOUND satellites.
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 Fires Establishment. All transmissions are encrypted by the Federal Computing System before being transmitted.