The Anakin Solo, frequently shortened to just Anakin or called Black Annie by its crew, was a significantly altered Imperial II-class Star Destroyer. It functioned as the command ship for the Galactic Alliance Guard during the Second Galactic Civil War, which was a widespread galactic conflict. This conflict pitted the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances against the Confederation. Serving as the personal flagship for Colonel Jacen Solo, the Anakin Solo received its name in remembrance of Solo's deceased brother. The Galactic Alliance Guard's acquisition of a Star Destroyer highlighted the increasing power and responsibilities of the Guard. By this point, they had become more involved in the war, a shift from their original purpose as a secretive police force tasked with maintaining internal security on Coruscant, the capital world.
The Anakin Solo was commissioned in 40 ABY at the General Crix Madine Military Reserve located on Coruscant, and achieved its initial victory during the Battle of Hapes. Furthermore, it was sent to Corellia with the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet. This deployment was a result of the Alliance's decision to initiate a blockade of the Corellian homeworld as a response to terrorist attacks on Coruscant perpetrated by Corellians. Following the withdrawal of Alliance forces from Corellia, the Anakin Solo remained an active participant in the war, engaging in multiple battles throughout the galaxy, including those at Gilatter VIII, Kuat, Kashyyyk, and Centerpoint Station.
The Anakin Solo also figured into the schemes of Jacen Solo as he aspired to become a Dark Lord of the Sith. Solo, who had secretly abandoned his role as a Jedi Knight to embrace the identity of the Sith Lord Darth Caedus, tortured his cousin, Ben Skywalker, aboard the Anakin Solo. His goal was to turn the young Jedi to the dark side of the Force. This attempt was unsuccessful, leading Caedus to turn his attention to Tahiri Veila, a Jedi Knight, as a potential Sith apprentice. Veila joined the Galactic Alliance Guard as a junior lieutenant and demonstrated her dedication to becoming Caedus' apprentice. She did this by instructing the gunners of the Anakin Solo to obliterate a squadron of Fondorian starfighters. During the Second Battle of Fondor, the Anakin Solo took part in a combined-fleet operation involving both the Galactic Alliance and the Imperial Remnant. It was on Fondor that the alliance between Caedus and Admiral Cha Niathal dissolved, which resulted in the Anakin Solo's return to Coruscant. There, Caedus solidified his position as the sole Chief of State.
The Anakin Solo continued its service by fighting Caedus' adversaries at the Battle of Uroro Station in 41 ABY. During this battle, the battleship of the GAG suffered significant damage and was stormed by forces from the Jedi Coalition, leading to the deaths of many GAG troopers. Simultaneously, Jaina Solo, Caedus' twin sister, confronted him and killed the Dark Lord in single combat. Following Caedus' demise and the downfall of the Anakin Solo, the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order reconciled, agreeing to a ceasefire with the Confederation, which signaled the conclusion of the Second Galactic Civil War.
The Anakin Solo was a Galactic Alliance Guard Imperial II-class Star Destroyer that featured both the standard characteristics of its class, along with several modifications that ultimately set it apart from other Star Destroyers of similar design. To reflect the Anakin Solo's role as the personal transport of the Galactic Alliance secret police, the ship's durasteel hull was painted a matte black color, instead of the typical white found on Alliance Star Destroyers. Beyond serving as a mobile base for the Guard, the Anakin Solo also operated as a carrier for smaller vessels, including the Duracrud, the Rover, XJ5 X-wing starfighters and various models of TIE fighter.
The Anakin Solo was designed for combat and equipped with a variety of advanced weaponry. This included standard and long-range turbolaser batteries, baradium and concussion missiles, proton torpedos, and sophisticated anti-starfighter systems. The ship's four long-range turbolasers, which were mounted in its nose, represented state-of-the-art technology. However, they consumed a significant amount of power, requiring non-essential systems to be shut down before firing. Consequently, their recharge rate was slower than average. Other systems integrated into the Anakin Solo's design incorporated tractor beam projectors, a gravity well generator located on the underside of the Star Destroyer, a cloaking cone that could be raised from the middle of its spine, and [Berda], an advanced tactical computer system that was operated by a team of Bith programmers.
Further modifications to the Anakin Solo were conceived by Darth Caedus, the Sith Lord who commanded the GAG Star Destroyer, while publicly posing as Colonel Jacen Solo. One such addition was the Detention Center, a hidden area in the ship's lower levels. Its location was unmarked to keep detainees unaware of their proximity to the ship's prison. This was intended to reduce the chances of resistance that could potentially harm both inmates and security personnel. A clandestine interrogation chamber, equipped with a Yuuzhan Vong torture device known as the Embrace of Pain, was also constructed near the long-range batteries. The Colonel also ordered the construction of many secret passageways that connected key areas of the ship, like his personal quarters and the Command Salon.
The Anakin Solo was launched in 40 ABY from the General Crix Madine Military Reserve. It was specifically designed for the Galactic Alliance Guard, which explains its black paint job and the fact that it was at least partially crewed by GAG personnel. Jaina Solo and Han Solo, still grieving the death of Anakin Solo, voiced their strong disapproval of the ship's name using colorful language.
The Anakin Solo had just finished its initial trials when Jacen Solo took the ship to Hapes in order to defend Queen Mother Tenel Ka from a growing rebellion. The ship also provided a secure location to protect Allana from potential assassins.
The Anakin Solo achieved its first victory during the Battle of Hapes. In this battle, its commander, Jacen Solo, successfully dismantled the Hapan fleet that had been assembled by Ducha AlGray and her Heritage Council.
While at Hapes, Jacen gave the order for the Anakin to fire upon the Millennium Falcon. He suspected that his parents were involved in a plot by the Five Worlds to assassinate Tenel Ka. The Falcon was almost destroyed, and Cakhmaim and Meewalh, his parents' Noghri bodyguards, were killed.
Later, Jacen commanded the Anakin Solo during an operation aimed at disrupting a smuggling ring near Bespin. Solo succeeded in this endeavor, capturing Uran Lavint and her ship, the Breathe My Jets. The ship later saw combat in the Blockade of Corellia and the Battle of Gilatter VIII.
The Anakin Solo subsequently participated in the Battle of Kuat before separating from the Galactic Alliance Fifth Fleet to travel to Kashyyyk. The purpose of this mission was to confront the Wookiees and the Jedi after the Order had abandoned the Galactic Alliance at Kuat. While positioned above Kashyyyk, Jacen, who had recently adopted the name Darth Caedus, instructed the Anakin Solo's long-range turbolasers to bombard the planet's surface, acting on the advice of his younger cousin Ben after the Wookiees refused to surrender. The bombardment resulted in a massive forest fire, which destroyed numerous wroshyr trees. In retaliation, a Wookiee squadron of Owool Interceptors attacked the bridge and eliminated the command crew.
The Jedi, led by Grand Master Luke Skywalker, attacked the Anakin Solo and the Fifth Fleet surrounding it using their StealthXs. As the Jedi initiated their attack, the Bothan and Corellian fleets that had participated in the Battle of Kuat arrived.
As Luke and Jaina Solo began an attack run on the Anakin Solo, Caedus entered the battle in his StealthX. After Luke's StealthX was destroyed by friendly fire from Jaina, he and R2-D2 managed to sneak aboard the Anakin. While onboard, Luke sabotaged all of the Anakin's long-range turbolasers before confronting Caedus, who had Ben trapped in the Embrace of Pain within a secret hangar bay on the Star Destroyer. A fierce lightsaber duel followed, leaving all three men seriously injured, but the Skywalkers managed to escape, choosing to spare Caedus' life for moral reasons. The destruction of the long-range turbolasers caused two thousand casualties aboard the flagship.
Near the end of the battle, the increasingly surrounded Anakin Solo was nearly destroyed by the Hapan fleet. Han and Leia Organa Solo, Caedus' parents, had convinced Tenel Ka that her lover had turned to the dark side. When Caedus refused to surrender, the Hapans opened fire on the already damaged ship. The Anakin Solo and everyone aboard would have likely been destroyed if the rogue Dark Jedi Alema Rar had not assisted Caedus with his battle meditation. This resulted in indecision on the part of the Confederation and allowed the failing Star Destroyer to escape. Caedus managed to divert the Confederation's advance on the Core Worlds, but he had completely lost the love and support of his family and friends. In his isolation and bitterness, he came to regret naming his flagship after his late brother, stating that he "despised the brat."
The Anakin Solo would again see action during a "negotiation" between the Galactic Alliance and Corellia. However, the negotiations were merely a trick to lure Caedus into deep space so that a now-functional Centerpoint Station could eliminate Caedus, the Anakin Solo, and the Galactic Alliance Second Fleet.
Due to interference by Jedi in StealthXs, who were tracking Caedus and had managed to plant a holocom on the Anakin Solo, Caedus left the vessel in a Blur scouting vehicle. He fled his flagship, suspecting that a bomb had been planted onboard. As the Jedi pursued him, Caedus ordered the Anakin Solo to provide cover, and therefore the ship was not with the rest of the Second Fleet when Centerpoint Station fired.
In retaliation for the firing of Centerpoint, Solo took the Anakin Solo as the flagship of the force that attacked Centerpoint in an attempt to seize the gravitic weapon. During the battle, Iella Wessiri Antilles, Leia Organa Solo, Han Solo, R2-D2, Luke and Ben Skywalker, and Saba Sebatyne boarded the Anakin Solo in a successful effort to rescue Allana, the Hapan Chume'da, who had been kidnapped by Caedus in order to force Hapan alliance with the Galactic Alliance.
When Centerpoint was destroyed by Jedi saboteurs during the battle, the Anakin Solo avoided destruction because it was positioned far away from the blast radius. Enraged by the loss of his daughter and the destruction of Centerpoint, Caedus murdered Lieutenant Patra Tebut on the bridge of the Anakin Solo before ordering a return to Coruscant in light of the disaster.
Toward the end of the war, the ship participated in the Battle of Uroro Station, along with the Megador and a fleet of Imperial Remnant ships.
The vessel sustained severe damage in the battle. Most of the bridge tower was destroyed, and the rest of the ship was heavily damaged by StealthX fighters flown by Jedi. Jaina Solo infiltrated the Anakin during the battle and engaged Caedus in one final duel. Caedus was more focused on saving Tenel Ka and Allana from an Imperial nanovirus attack than on defending himself, so he was ultimately struck down by his sister.
After Caedus' death, the surviving crew members who had not defected were removed from the ship and sent to detention centers on the ground. Luke Skywalker, along with a number of Jedi and their allies, captured the Moff Council which had taken refuge on the Anakin. There, he forced them to rejoin the Galactic Alliance and placed them under the command of Jagged Fel.