Synopsis: New Walata was destroyed by the crystalline entity. Nearing the end of its life cycle, the creature was seeking the energy required to reproduce. However, it was being manipulated by a Romulan faction seeking to take advantage of the chaos caused by the entity in Federation space.
Investigating, the Hiroshima first uncovered Romulan agents among the cultists who worshipped and pursued the entity, then the Romulan ship managing the insidious operation. Although Starfleet personnel are twice taken hostage, the situation is resolved (mostly) peacefully and the entity dies after seeding a dead planet with hundreds of dormant offspring.