Centaurs are an alien race from the planet Centaurvania. They are quadrupeds with short legs, a short torso, and long arms. Their species exhibits sexual trimorphism: the three sexes are male, female, and worker. The workers cannot procreate and their biological imperative is to ensure the continuation of their bloodline. Their main function in society is to protect their clan, but they are considered disposable by Centaur society.
The Centaurs achieve a technological level similar to humans in the early 21st century. One Centaur group develops a scout probe and chooses a worker named Gunther as the replicant pilot. He departs to explore a nearby system that has unnatural microwave emissions. There, he discovers the FPS wormhole network and begins to explore it. He is taken captive for over 500 years and powers down when he runs out of hydrogen fuel for his fusion reactor. He is rescued by Icarus and Daedalus, who escort him back to his home planet. Over 500 years have passed since his departure.
While Gunter is away, Centaur society has collapsed. The survivors no longer have a technologically advanced society and instead live in villages.