View source for StarCitizen:Cascom

{{Astronomical object
| image = Castra II - Cascom - CitizenCon 2024.webp
| code = CASTRA.PLANETS.CASTRAII
| name = Cascom
| classification = Terrestrial rocky planet
| galactapedia = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0dXKkL9a9o-cascom-castra-ii
}}

Only Castra II is suitable for habitation. The [[StarCitizen:UEE]] military designated the planet as Castra Command, which was shortened to '''Cascom''' — an unofficial name that has stuck, much to the dismay of some current politicians. The military terraformed the planet as fast as possible. Some scientist today even say possibly too fast, suggesting that the escalated speed at which Cascom was made ready is to blame for its pronounced cloud layer.

The military wanted to construct an ideal defensive position, so they dug in to the top of [[StarCitizen:Mount Ulysses]] to build the city of [[StarCitizen:Sherman]], making it both superbly secure and breathtakingly beautiful. This fortress city, situated above the clouds, has earned the nickname "Island in the Sky." Upon seeing [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] for the first time, Admiral [[StarCitizen:Kumasi Klein]] famously said, "It's the city of my dreams. Picturesque and protected by big guns."

Since [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] was under government control for centuries, it remains a sterling example of state-sponsored architecture. The oldest government buildings in [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] reflect the austere [[StarCitizen:Hennowism]] style that was prominent during the city's initial construction. When Monumentalism was championed by [[StarCitizen:Messer III|Imperator Messer III]], [[StarCitizen:Sherman]]'s skyline was updated to reflect the style. Today, [[StarCitizen:Sherman]]'s historic architecture remains as one of the primary reasons to visit the city.

Ever since the military opened the system to [[StarCitizen:Citizen]]s and [[StarCitizen:civilian]]s, [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] has searched to define its cultural identity. For centuries, living on Castra II was an assignment, not a choice. People from every corner of the [[StarCitizen:UEE|Empire]] spent time there, but few put down roots. When the system opened up, industry became the planet's most obvious new resident. Although companies like [[StarCitizen:Kruger Intergalactic]] injected new life into the planet, they did little to give it a new identity among the masses of other imperial worlds.

That changed in [[StarCitizen:2833]] when the planet elected [[StarCitizen:Andre Novoselov]] president. President [[StarCitizen:Andre Novoselov|Novoselov]] worked closely with the business community to attract more residents to [[StarCitizen:Sherman]]. For years, businesses had struggled to find enough employees to fill available positions. Together, they launched pro-[[StarCitizen:Sherman]] promotional campaigns on planets around the [[StarCitizen:UEE|Empire]]. One of those campaigns resurrected the "Island in the Sky" motif and featured the iconic image of the mountaintop city sitting above cloud cover sparkling from the light pollution of cities below. For the first time, the [[StarCitizen:UEE|Empire]] saw [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] as more than a military outpost or industrial park. It was President [[StarCitizen:Andre Novoselov|Novoselov]]'s hope that he would see Castra II earn representation in his lifetime, but sadly his transition from President to planetary Governor never came to pass, and the planet has yet to earn its senatorial seat.

President [[StarCitizen:Andre Novoselov|Novoselov]]'s push to populate the planet worked. As more people arrived, so did a wide variety of service industries to meet the increasing demand. [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] became a melting pot of high-end stores, restaurants and hotels, intermixed with businesses geared toward middle-class and blue-collar workers. In many parts of the city, people in designer suits and those in graphene-toed boots shop, dine and live in the same part of town.

Recently, Cascom's cheap real estate and scenic views have become a popular home for retirees. In an effort to attract a younger crowd, [[StarCitizen:Sherman]] has promoted its beautiful, mountaintop location as the 'verse's premiere extreme sports destination. For a while, paragliding above the clouds was extremely popular until numerous amateur paragliders landed on military installations and forced the city to impose a ban on the practice. Even if paragliding has been prohibited around [[StarCitizen:Mount Ulysses]], there is more than enough awe and adventure awaiting anyone who visits Castra II.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/14875-Galactic-Guide|text=Galactic Guide: Castra}}</ref>

When Castra II was finally terraformed, [[StarCitizen:Ivar Messer]] had already ascended to the newly created position of [[StarCitizen:Prime Citizen]]. He wasted no time allocating resources to build up Castra II as a source of reinforcements for the military at [[StarCitizen:Hadrian system|Hadrian]] as well as a staging area for an invasion into [[StarCitizen:Xi'an]] territory, should the opportunity ever present itself.

When the jump point to [[StarCitizen:Oya system]] was discovered near the end of the [[StarCitizen:26th Century|26th century]], Castra ceased being a secondary base; it was now on the front line. Long-range bombers would circle the [[StarCitizen:Jump Point|jump point]] toward [[StarCitizen:Oya system|Oya]], waiting for a signal to push into [[StarCitizen:Xi'an]] territory and blast their targets. When Castra's jump to [[StarCitizen:Tohil system|Tohil]] was discovered, it was another way into the [[StarCitizen:UEE]] from [[StarCitizen:Xi'an]] space. The [[StarCitizen:Imperator]] whipped this fear of attack up to cut off civilian traffic into Castra entirely.

When the [[StarCitizen:Messer Era|Messers]] fell, military tensions turned to diplomatic relations. [[StarCitizen:Tohil system|Tohil]] and [[StarCitizen:Oya system|Oya]] became part of the [[StarCitizen:UEE|Empire]] when the [[StarCitizen:Perry Line]] was divided into the [[StarCitizen:Transitional Systems]]. Very quickly, the military on Castra discovered that they weren't the front line anymore. In [[StarCitizen:2789]], the military scaled back their presence to reopen the system for civilians, even repurposing most of the military structures for public use.
<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13830-The-Observist-Sherman-Castra-II-Castra|text=The Observist: Sherman, Castra II, Castra}}</ref>

==Locations==
===Major Locations===
[[File:Sherman,_Cascom_-_CitizenCon_2024.webp|thumb|Concept of Sherman]]
====[[StarCitizen:Sherman]]====
A city built on top a mountain, Sherman once a potential launch point into [[StarCitizen:Xi'an]] space has been demilitarized for civilian use.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/R4jxLALWgJ-sherman|text=Galactapedia: Sherman|accessdate=2025-08-20}}</ref>


==References==
<references />

==See also==

{{System navplate|Castra}}