Although the days of their greatness are long past, humans still remain one of the most numerous races in the galaxy.
During the age of the Great Ancient Empires it was humans who ruled the galaxy. Today, however, only memories remain of their former unity and former might. Now humans live across many states. They are the principal race, for example, in the Horde, which is a human state. In the Empire of the Golden Suns humans also hold quite important positions, although they are not the titular race there, sharing the ancient rule with other great houses. The Infinite Alliance, too, was originally created by humans.
By now, however, these humans have modified their minds, intellect, and bodies so heavily that those now called the Novolyudi can hardly be considered similar to the humanity of old.
Even so, humans remain an important part of the galaxy's political map. They still exert a strong influence on it. If human societies had to be described in a single phrase, it would above all be extreme diversity. Humans live in almost every corner of the galaxy. The only exceptions are territories controlled by certain xenophobic or especially cruel races.
At present it is humans who are the main driving force behind extragalactic expansion. The Horde's project "Distant Shores 2" is in effect devoted to colonizing remote galaxies and establishing extragalactic outposts.
It is not known for certain whether, back in the days of the Great Antiquity, there were ships that left the bounds of the galaxy. Most historians now incline to the view that yes — such expeditions did take place. But contact with them was lost long ago, and their fate remains unknown. The Horde's research vessels sent to other galaxies have so far failed to find any signs of human states beyond the home galaxy.
Since human societies within the galaxy are extremely diverse, it is hardly possible to give them any single universal characterization. Yet in the eyes of many of the galaxy's inhabitants, humans still remain a potential threat. Even ten thousand years after the fall of the Great Ancient Empire, many fear that something similar might one day be recreated — and that non-human races would once again find themselves under the human heel.
And although the era of humanity is long past, few besides humans themselves would wish to see it return.