"It doesn't seem to matter what we say. In fact, it seems to compound the issue and make it worse..."
— Extract from communication with Primian Emissary c271 PT
Background
When the first treaty was signed between
Primians of
P'Ache Prime and the
Macrans on 17 Four 271 PT, many people on
P'Ache Micro didn't expect it to happen. While it had been coming for several decades, the long run-up meant that many didn't think it would happen at all, and when it did the shock prompted a slew of theories about the treaty itself.
These theories can be broken into two main groups, the first being about how it came about that the treaty was signed and the second being about why the Primians wanted the treaty in the first place.
Theories about How
The theories have been broken up into sections based on how "reasonable" they were considered by the Primians. Their focus is on how the treaty came to be, mainly what it was that caused the Macrans on the Macran Council to finalise the treaty. The popularity section on each theory indicates the % of Macrans who believed such a thing was possible. It should be noted that a lot of people believed in more than one scenario.
Reasonable Theories
Bribes
Theory
At least one, in some cases all, of the committee members were bribed to approve the treaty. Some suggest that this was a promise of gifts and others that it took the form of favours.
Pros
Physically possible; several members were publically against but ultimately voted for the treaty and signed it in the end. Had been done before.
Cons
No hard evidence for bribery. Members didn't seem any better off after the treaty.
Popularity
Threats
Theory
At least one, in some cases all, of the committee members were threatened by the Primians with violence if they didn't sign the treaty.
Pros
Physically possible; several members were publically against but ultimately voted for the treaty and signed it in the end. Had been done before.
Cons
No records of the threats. But there wouldn't be, would there?
Popularity
Blackmail
Theory
At least one, in some cases all, of the committee members were blackmailed by the Primians due to infidelities within the committee.
Pros
Physically possible; one of the committee members was cheating on her husband. Had been done before.
Cons
The infidelity was a very open secret.
Popularity
Ridiculous Theories
Romantic Connection
Theory
One of the Primians romanced one (or more) of the committee members and persuaded them to help the treaty go through.
Pros
It's a sexy story. One of the committee members had an obvious attraction for one of the Primians.
Cons
No evidence of physical relationships between the Primians and the committee members.
Popularity
Replace A Member
Theory
One of the committee members was actually a Primian pretending to be a Macran who persuaded the others to go ahead with the treaty.
Pros
Physically possible, there have been Primians on P'Ache Micro since Primian Ro G'Ga in -59PT.
Cons
What Primian would stoop low enough to pretend to be Macran?
Popularity
Brainwashing
Theory
The Primians used brainwashing techniques as part of the treaty negotiations. The Macrans never stood a chance!
Pros
The Primians are a more advanced people and could know things about brainwashing which Macrans didn't. All of the meetings happened in secret, so anything could have happened in them. The Macran committee wasn't expected to sign, so they must have been out of their minds.
Cons
No physical evidence.
Popularity
Hypnosis
Theory
The Macran committee members were all hypnotised into signing the treaty. They didn't know what they were doing.
Pros
The Primians are a more advanced people and could know things about hypnosis which Macrans didn't. All of the meetings happened in secret, so anything could have happened in them. The Macran committee wasn't expected to sign, so they must have been out of their minds.
Cons
No physical evidence
Popularity
Drugging
Theory
The Macran committee members were drugged so they didn't know what they were doing when they signed the treaty.
Pros
The Primians are a more advanced people and could know things about drugs which Macrans didn't. All of the meetings happened in secret, so anything could have happened in them. The Macran committee wasn't expected to sign, so they must have been out of their minds.
Cons
No physical evidence. All members of the committee remember with clarity signing the treaty.
Popularity
Completely Illogical
Bodyswapping
Theory
The Primians used body-swapping technology to put one of themselves into the body of at least one of the committee members.
Pros
The Primians are advanced and could have body-swapping technology.
Cons
No committee member has backed up this theory, or claimed to have been swapped into another body. The Macrans had no evidence that body-swapping technology exists.
Popularity
Body Possession
Theory
The Primians used their advanced technology to implant themselves in the minds of the committee members and control their actions in their favour.
Pros
The Primians are advanced and could have body possession technology. The committee members may not even know or feel more than a headache.
Cons
The Macrans had no evidence that such technology exists. No physical evidence. All members of the committee remember with clarity signing the treaty.
Popularity
Parasitic Control
Theory
The Primians implanted parasites in the minds of the committee members which controlled their behaviour and forced them to sign the treaty.
Pros
The Primians are advanced and could have trained brain parasites.
Cons
The Macrans had no evidence that such technology exists. No physical evidence. All members of the committee remember with clarity signing the treaty.
Popularity
Theories about Why
All of the theories about why the Primians were pushing for the treaty revolved around the idea that the Primians wanted something from the Macrans. The question then became what it is they wanted.
Places
The Planet
Theory
The Primians have destroyed their own planet and want to move to P'Ache Micro, kicking the Macrans out.
Pros
The Primians seemed very interested in aspects of the planet that the Macrans didn't really think about.
Cons
P'Ache Prime was still fully habitable.
Where The Planet Was
Theory
The Primians wanted to destroy the planet so that they could use the space for their own nefarious purposes.
Pros
The Primians are advanced and could have weapons which could destroy planets.
Cons
Why would they need to get the planet to agree to anything if they were just going to destroy it?
People
Women
Theory
The Primians had run out of women and wanted to steal Macran women to repopulate their planet.
Pros
No Primian women had been seen on P'Ache Micro by that point.
Cons
The Primians had plenty of their own women on P'Ache Prime.
Labour
Theory
The Primians wanted to steal all the good workers and take them back to P'Ache Prime to work for them.
Pros
The Primians clearly look down on the Macrans. It wouldn't be beyond them to do such a thing.
Cons
There was no mention of labour in the treaty.
Experiments
Theory
The Primians wanted to use the Macran people to do dangerous scientific experiments on.
Pros
The Primians look down on the Macrans and aren't good at treating them like people.
Cons
There was no mention of experiments in the treaty.
Things
Mud
Theory
The Primians wanted to take all the precious mud (Kired) from P'Ache Micro to P'Ache Prime.
Pros
The Primians have been doing lots of experiments on different materials. Kired is very precious and the Primians have no mud of their own.
Cons
The Primians don't seem that interested in mud and complain about it a lot.
Essence
Theory
The Primians want to steal the essence of the soul of P'Ache Micro and take it back to P'Ache Prime.
Pros
The Primians have been doing a lot of experiments on materials. They behave as though their planet has lost its soul.
Cons
The Primians don't believe that planets have souls.
Threats definitely seem the most likely to me, but I do like the romantic theory the most. Also the mud theory brings me joy. 'The Primians don't seem that interested in mud and complain about it a lot. '
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025
It's clear you're familiar with the political workings of the Primians! XD Yes, I don't understand why they're not interested in the mud either! <3