We investigate the adverse impact of pointing errors (PEs) on the efficiency of free-space optical communication under varied weather conditions using hybrid subcarrier intensity modulation over a fading regime. The error rate is improved by implementing topological permutations at the trans-receiver to achieve a bit error rate of ^{10  −  10}. The derived combined probability density function expressions are defined as generalized infinite power series for precision, which supersedes Meijer-G. The outcomes are contrasted with BPSK-SIM and pulse position modulation, validating its agreement with favored aspects. The undesirable influence of PEs is balanced by widening the beam-waist at the expense of the received irradiance in a multiple-input-multiple-output, MIMO_{(2  ×  2)} system, until a normalized jitter cut-off of 3.35. Afterward, single-input-multiple-output, SIMO_{(1  ×  3)}, emerges to be more reliable, providing the flexibility to select the optimum order concerning the quality of service.