The Anvil was a Kilji war cruiser under the command of General Crofyp. Crofyp belonged to the Kilji Illumine, representing the nation of the Kilji species. This warship was one of two in Crofyp's task force; the second was the Kilji picket cruiser named the _Hammer_. The cruiser was equipped with escape pods and electrostatic barriers to protect its hull. Its weapons array included spectrum lasers.
In the year 18 BBY, a Grysk operative known as "Jixtus," who had aligned himself with Generalirius Nakirre, the leader of the Illumine, dispatched Crofyp's task force to the Unknown Regions' Rapacc system. Jixtus instructed Crofyp to capture several refugees hiding on the planet Rapacc. Upon arrival at Rapacc, Crofyp's forces were confronted by the [Aelos], a Nikardun blockade frigate commandeered by the Paccosh. As the Kilji ships maneuvered for a cross fire attack on the Aelos, the Chiss heavy cruiser [Springhawk], whose crew referred to the Anvil as "Cruiser One," appeared and launched plasma sphere weapons at the starboard side of the war cruiser. The Springhawk destroyed the Anvil, while the Hammer managed to escape.
The Kilji war cruiser Anvil was noticeably longer in length compared to the Kilji picket cruiser _Hammer_. The Anvil was armed with multiple weapon clusters located on its shoulders and bow, which included spectrum lasers. It featured engines, a hyperdrive, and electrostatic barrier nodes that generated electrostatic barriers to protect the war cruiser's hull. Sensors were installed on the starboard side of the Anvil.
The bridge of the Anvil, which included a viewport, housed several control stations, including those for the commander and the navigator. The bridge had orange-rimmed doors that provided access to two Kilji escape pods located on the starboard and port sides, with the portside pod being closer to the navigator's station. Restraints were in place to protect the crew.
The Anvil served the Kilji Illumine, the nation of the Kilji species, as the flagship of Illumine General Crofyp's task force. The other ship in the task force was Colonel [Tildnis]'s Hammer. In 18 BBY, the Grysk operative "Jixtus," allied with Generalirius Nakirre, the leader of the Illumine, sent Crofyp's task force to the Unknown Regions' Rapacc system. Jixtus tasked Crofyp with retrieving a group of refugees hiding on the planet Rapacc, and assigned Pathfinder navigator Qilori to the Anvil. During the hyperspace journey to the Rapacc system, the Hammer slowed down, prompting Qilori to halt Crofyp's war cruiser. After the picket cruiser drew near, the navigator resumed navigating the Anvil, ensuring both cruisers arrived at their destination simultaneously.
Upon arriving at the Rapacc system, Crofyp's task force was confronted by the Paccosh-commandeered Nikardun blockade frigate Aelos. Crofyp ordered the blockade frigate's captain, Commander Uingali foar Marocsaa, to stand aside and allow his forces to retrieve the refugees. However, the Paccosh refused, leading the general to prepare a cross fire attack on the Aelos. The Anvil moved past the frigate along its starboard side, while the Hammer mirrored this maneuver on the vessel's port side.
As the Kilji ships positioned themselves, the Chiss heavy cruiser Springhawk entered the outer system. The crew of the Springhawk designated the Anvil as "Cruiser One" and fired two ship-disabling plasma sphere weapons at Crofyp's flagship before engaging in the confrontation within the inner system. The Chiss commander Senior Captain Mitth'raw'nuruodo, whose core name was "Thrawn," believed the Anvil and Hammer to be sister ships of the Kilji war cruiser Whetstone. He ordered Crofyp to move clear of the Aelos, which Thrawn considered his target. Enraged by the senior captain's order to move away from the Paccosh frigate, the Kilji general had his vessels fire spectrum laser salvos at the Chiss heavy cruiser after turning to face their new opponent.
During the exchange of laser fire between the Kilji and Chiss cruisers, the plasma spheres disabled the Anvil's starboard side, rendering its weapons and defenses ineffective. The Kilji crew attempted to reactivate the paralyzed weapons, but the Springhawk destroyed them. Qilori urged Crofyp to flee, but the general refused, stating that those enlightened to the Kilji way of order and enlightenment religion stood, fought, and prevailed. Dismissing the Kilji's claim, the Pathfinder fled to the portside escape pod.
Crofyp maneuvered the Anvil to shield the Hammer as the picket cruiser fled. He attempted to threaten his navigator for deserting the battle, but Qilori escaped before the general's flagship exploded after being struck by several breacher missiles on its paralyzed side. Tildnis's picket cruiser fled to the Unknown Regions "Sunrise" system. Qilori, who disliked his time aboard the Anvil due to the Kiljis' arrogance and their religious discussions, later reported to Jixtus that the Chiss and the Paccosh had destroyed the war cruiser.
The Anvil, under the command of Crofyp, was crewed by numerous Kilji vassals, individuals enlightened to the Kilji religious beliefs. The war cruiser's crew included: Vassal One, a weapons operator; Vassal Two, the sensor operator; Vassal Three, another weapons operator; and Vassal Four, the comm operator.
The Anvil made an appearance in the 2021 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil, the concluding book in the Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy by Timothy Zahn.