Simon and Schuster Audioworks presents The Web of the Romulans by M.S. Murdoch.

This program is read by George Decay with Leonard Neemoy as the voice of Spock.

And so, Stalin, you have been selected. It is the chance of a lifetime.

Continue the Romulan Prater. If you serve the Empire well, it will serve you.

The risks are high, but the rewards are great. Go with the pray-lessing.

The high and mighty words could not disguise the truth. Stalin dulled. He was an ache in

the Prater's side, and now he had graciously been granted the opportunity to die.

Surrounded on all sides by treachery and deceit, spied upon and used, he was tired of it

all. Even if the Empire survived, he was leading his crew into certain destruction.

They would die, so the Prater and his ilk could survive to build another Empire, more selfish

and deceitful than the last, succession upon succession of overindulged parasites, feeding

on the toil of others. He rubbed his forehand, knowing he was right, knowing also that he

would carry out the mission to the best visibility. There were innocent lives at stake too, and

if he saved one of those, it would be enough. The Centurion rose as Stalin backed from

the Prater's audience chamber. The ship awaits commander, she began. But Stalin turned

abruptly and strode angrily down the corridor. The Centurion had to run to keep up with

them. They wound through meandering streets, and she tried not to see the empty city. The

worst of the cataclysm had hit the capital, and its gate had long since been shut. Its

population evacuated. Those who remained were ravaged and hopeless. It was rumored the

Prater would not leave his palace for fear of them. The Centurion shivered and moved

closer to Stalin, almost running into him as he came to a sudden halt. Stalin sighed.

I will not ask you, Centurion, to accompany me to certain death. You need not ask,

...