Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's "In the Name of Science" Side Quest: A Complete Guide
After aiding Dr. Shcherba in Stalker 2, players embark on the "In the Name of Science" side quest, a multi-stage mission involving mutant electronic collars and crucial choices. This guide details the quest's progression and optimal decisions.
Locating the Electronic Collars
The initial phase involves retrieving five electronic collars from various locations across the Zone. These locations are typically marked on your map. If locations aren't displayed, you may have already collected them during other missions or exploration. The table below details collar locations:
Region | Collar Location | Mutant Type |
---|---|---|
Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
Malachite | Brain Scorcher Location | Brain Scorcher |
Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
Return the collars to Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant. If encountering bugs (e.g., inability to collect a collar), use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to advance.
The Jammer Decision: Disable or Recalibrate?
Upon delivering the collars, Shcherba reveals a signal jamming their functionality. Players must locate and interact with the jamming device in the Storage on the Hill. The choice is to disable or recalibrate the jammer:
Disable/Destroy the Jammer (Recommended): This progresses the quest, yielding coupons from Shcherba and leading to a bloodsucker encounter and a subsequent choice.
Recalibrate the Jammer: This concludes the quest with coupons from Dvupalov.
The Final Confrontation: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer leads to a call from Shcherba, followed by a rendezvous at his lab. After receiving Magic Vodka from Dvupalov, a confrontation ensues involving bloodsuckers and an armed Shcherba. Players must choose whether to kill or spare Shcherba. Both choices yield similar rewards; however, sparing Shcherba maintains positive relations with scientists. This choice unlocks the "On a Leash" trophy and rewards the player with a Gauss Gun from Dvupalov.