++++ SPOILER WARNING ++++

The Ancients in Traveller, have degenerated into the Droyne and Chirpers. A super-intelligent mutant droyne developeed, called "Grandfather" built a vast empire. It was destroyed in a cataclysmic war in which entire planets were shattered. In the Traveller mythos, this occured 10,000 years ago. Numerous Ancient artifacts still exist, and many of these exhibit near magical qualities, as they are meant to represent an extreme tech level.