[ WP ] Humans , along with a few other species , were the first intelligent life in the Milky Way . Over time , each of these races built an interstellar empire and eventually came into armed conflict with one another . You are an alien archaeologist trying to find information on these ancient legends .

A single crack burst through the streets, reverberating off walls and sending Xeras to the ground. The projectile that had be fired penetrated the ancient transportation cube, sending rust and glass flying through the air at an alarming rate. 
 
 Silence. 
 
 As Xeras began to reach for his self assembling self defense carbine, a second hunk of led and metal landed. Closer this time. Footsteps approached, two maybe three humanoids, assuming there were n't any four or six legged creatures in the vicinity. 
 
'Stay where you are, do n't move.' The unknown creature called through the crackle of a re-breather.'Pick up your weapon, throw it behind you.' Doing as he was asked, Xeras hoped his crew had heard the sound of primitive firearms and were on route. Swapping between galactic pidgin and the crass local dialect found in the outer Virgo Cluster. Looking through Xeras' research gear slumped against the cube. 
 
'Researcher or looter?' A new voice asked, different this time. No re-breather, deeper to the point where it was almost just a rumble. 
 
'There a difference between the two? They both steal artifacts and take our land.' Roughly grabbing him from behind, one of the shooters pulled him up roughly by the collar.'What're you looking for friend?' To Xeras' surprise, it was indeed two creatures, although one appeared to be... surely not. 
 
'Has anyone ever told you that you have an uncanny resemblance to a taureth?' 
 
'Answer the question' 
 
'I'm looking for information regarding the ceasefire between the humans and taureth reached here. Including the agreement regarding the other star-faring race, the Vassberg and the subsequent trade agreements.' 
 
'So you're another one of them huh.' Dropping Xeras to the ground, the humanoid shouldered took his rifle from the centaur-looking creature and shouldered it.'Can you read?' 
 
'Excuse me?' 
 
'I think he might be a bit too dense for that Den.' 
 
'You know, books, pages, letters.' Pressing a button on his helmet, the blackness of the visor shimmered and faded, giving a clear view of the head beneath.'If you ca n't how long do you have?' 
 
'H-human?' Spindly hands dove into Xeras' research gear, looking for his bulky but reliable communication device. 
 
'If you're thinking of calling home, do n't bother.' 
 
'Scavengers got em' Pawing the ground impatiently, the'Taur ran a hand through his thick mane.'Speaking of which, we should leave.' 
 
'But how on earth is a *human* still here, we've found nothing but traces...' 
 
'Descendant, not human.' Loading more ancient bullets into a half full magazine, Den began to walk, motioning for the two of them to follow before vaulting into a gaping sewer pipe at least 4 metres high.'I'm fluent in the two predominant languages at the fall of the empire and subsequent fracturing planet relations, English and Russo-Chinese. Not much help for more niche stuff or new-planetary languages though.' 
 
'I can help with higher Taureth, they had the sense to keep their languages trimmed.' A wide grin cracked over the'taurs craggy face as he admired the boom his voice made through the tunnel which sent earth-like rodents scurrying for the shadows.'Names Barathaus by the way.' he said in an effort to break the looming silence. 
 
'How did the empires fall anyway?' 
 
'If you do n't know that much after a few thousand earth years...' 
 
'We should fear for the future of history.' As they celebrated their cleverness with what Xeras would later base a historical text `` The origin of the *high five* and *bro fist*'', he briefly allowed himself to lament. This was the greatest historical discovery in centuries, and it was a pair of Vn'eti tribals. Not to mention the loss of his crew. Although, at least he could go AWOL to dodge student loans. 
 
 Silver linings are important.
