Study of the now-disabled crystal revealed a connection between it and the anomaly, more specifically, the artificial structures within it. Careful analysis showed it to actually be a part of the anomaly’s maintenance system that had somehow ended up wandering astray, and plans were rapidly formulated to return it to where it was meant to be. After last minute preparations, the Aurora made it’s attempt to return home, running the more stable, but still volatile, gauntlet of the anomaly’s interior. Getting off a lot lighter than the first time, the ship made it back to Federation space- and nearly ran over a runabout that happened to be investigating that end of the conduit at the time. Safely home again, the crew set course for Starbase 23 to drop off their Romulan passengers, as well as get the ship patched up and take a well-earned break.
