Crofyp's task force
The Kilji Illumine, a nation of the Kilji species, included a task force under the command of General Crofyp. The Kilji war cruiser Anvil served as its flagship, supported by Colonel Tildnis' Kilji picket cruiser Hammer. Several Kilji vassals, beings adhering to Kilji beliefs, formed the Anvil's crew. These included Vassal One, Vassal Two, Vassal Three and Vassal Four. The Hammer's crew consisted of Kiljis.
In 18 BBY, the task force journeyed to the Unknown Regions' Rapacc system to retrieve refugees concealed on the planet Rapacc. This mission was carried out on the orders of "Jixtus," a Grysk operative allied with Generalirius Nakirre, the Illumine's leader. There, Crofyp's ships encountered the Paccosh-commandeered Nikardun blockade frigate Aelos. Following a short exchange, the general prepared for combat. However, the Chiss heavy cruiser Springhawk crippled the Anvil's starboard side before it could attack, then destroyed the Anvil, while the Hammer escaped to the Sunrise system via hyperspace.
Description
General Crofyp commanded the task force, an element of the Kilji Illumine within the Kilji species' nation. The force comprised two warships: the Kilji war cruiser Anvil, Crofyp's flagship, and its sister ship, the Kilji picket cruiser Hammer, under the command of Colonel Tildnis.
History
In 18 BBY, the Grysk operative known as "Jixtus," in league with Generalirius Nakirre, the Illumine's leader, dispatched Crofyp's task force to retrieve some refugees in the Unknown Regions' Rapacc system. Jixtus also assigned Pathfinder navigator Qilori to the Anvil. As the ships traveled through hyperspace toward the star system, Qilori halted the Anvil near their destination, noticing the Hammer's deceleration. Qilori informed Crofyp that both cruisers would reach their destination in fifteen minutes and then resumed navigating the Anvil through hyperspace after the Hammer had caught up.
Upon reaching the Rapacc system, the Kilji task force encountered the Paccosh-commandeered Nikardun blockade frigate Aelos. The frigate's captain, the Paccosh Uingali foar Marocsaa, questioned the Kiljis about their purpose and identity. Crofyp identified his task force, stated their objective, and demanded the frigate allow them to proceed to the planet Rapacc to retrieve the refugees. Marocsaa refused, prompting the general to position the task force for a crossfire attack on the Aelos.
Shortly after the Anvil and the Hammer were positioned to attack the frigate, the Chiss heavy cruiser Springhawk entered the outer system, launching two ship-disabling plasma spheres at Crofyp's flagship before executing a microjump to join the confrontation between Crofyp and the Nikardun in the inner system. As the spheres approached their target, Mitth'raw'nuruodo, the Chiss Senior Captain known by his core name "Thrawn," who commanded the Springhawk, contacted Crofyp, ordering him to move away from the Aelos. Infuriated by the Chiss's order to disengage from the frigate, which the Chiss had designated as their prey, the general directed the Anvil and Hammer to fire laser salvos at the Chiss heavy cruiser, turning his ships to face their new opponent.
Shortly after the Kilji laserfire struck the Springhawk, Thrawn's plasma spheres disabled the Anvil's starboard side, including the weapon and defense displays on the bridge. Qilori urged Crofyp to flee, but the Kilji refused, declaring that those enlightened by the Kilji religion fought and prevailed. Qilori denounced the Kilji general as a fool and escaped in a kilji_escape_pod, while Crofyp threatened his navigator with a black weapon for desertion. The pathfinder escaped, and the Anvil exploded after several breacher missiles struck its crippled side. The Hammer then retreated to the Unknown Regions' Sunrise system after the Chiss chose to spare it.
Commanders and crew
Crofyp and Tildnis led Crofyp's task force. The Anvil's crew consisted of several Kilji vassals, individuals devoted to the Kilji religious beliefs. These included Vassal One, a weapons operator, Vassal Two, the sensor operator, Vassal Three, another weapons operator, and Vassal Four, the comm operator. The Hammer, its sister ship, had a crew of seventeen Kiljis.[1]
Behind the scenes
The 2021 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil, the final installment in Timothy Zahn's Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy, featured Crofyp's task force.