The PRI-constructed Fireswarm-C missile systems were the first to be placed into the 'Mech replacing the Shigunga launchers carried by the standard design. Maintaining the Artemis kept the accuracy up and allowed the systems to do more damage on average then the original, though it took them some months to mate Inner Sphere Artemis systems with the Clan-equivalent weapons they produced.

It took PRI engineers several months to nail down what to do with the rest of the mass freed up by the ultra-light clan missile racks though. In the end, they added two freezer heatsinks and two tonnes of armor, greatly increasing the protection of this 'Mech over the original. They also brought the machine gun ammunition up to a full tonne, allowing for extended anti-infantry action.

The final upgrade was the inclusion of five Farstar-C laser arrays in place of the two CrisComp 32 fixtures. One Farstar-C rests above the cockpit, while two more fit beneath engine and the last two take up the space formerly taken by the smaller lasers on the flanks of the machine.

Note that even with two extra freezers, heat goes through the roof when firing both missiles and lasers at the same time, so standard doctrine with the upgraded 'Mech is to fire missiles until the ammunition dries up before falling back on the laser arrays. Also note that unlike the Beowulf, this Viking does mount the Pryde Rock designed Talk & Track 10 system, making it a very nasty command 'Mech.

It and two lances of heavy Star League era 'Mechs caught a full company of Hegemony forces after allowing their scouting force to be destroyed. The forests of the battle area kept ranges close, where the enemy thought they were safe from the Viking's missiles so they made the unlucky decision to by-base it and hit some of the closer-ranged 'Mechs. Two Hegemony 'Mechs exploded, back-shot by missile volleys from the Viking and the battle began.

Twenty minutes of deadly hide-and-seek in the metal-rich, sensor-confusing forest resulted in twenty dead or diabled 'Mechs, but in the end, the Viking finished off the last enemy 'Mech, her ammunition bins empty, with concentrated laser fire.

The last scene of the BattleRom shows the battered Viking missing machine guns and armor off her right leg, myomer and joints spilling out, and steam rising from numerous rents in her armor in all locations.

Oddly enough, this upgrade is not much more expensive then the normal Viking, though she is much harder to maintain. PRI spokesmen say that is because of her cheaper internal structure. It is possible therefore that this 'Mech may become a common assault 'Mech on the fields of battle, though this is doubtful considering how long it takes PRI to build a Viking.