Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's "In the Name of Science" Side Quest: A Complete Guide
Following the Visions of Truth main mission and a call from Dr. Shcherba, players embark on the side quest, "In the Name of Science," in Stalker 2. This quest involves locating electronic collars from various mutants, leading to multiple choices impacting the outcome.
Locating the Electronic Collars
The initial objective requires finding five electronic collars from specific locations:
| Region | Collar Location | Mutant |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
| Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
| Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
| Malachite | Brain Scorcher | |
| Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
Note: If collars are missing, they may have been acquired earlier. The console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" can resolve issues. After collecting all collars, return to Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant.
The Jamming Device: Disable or Recalibrate?
Upon delivering the collars, Shcherba discovers a jamming signal. Players must locate and interact with the jamming device in the Storage on the Hill. The choice is to destroy/disable the jammer or recalibrate it:
| Choice | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Destroy/Disable the Jammer | Quest progresses, rewards received, leads to a confrontation with Shcherba. |
| Recalibrate the Jammer | Quest concludes, rewards received from Dvupalov. |
Confrontation with Shcherba: Kill or Spare?
Disabling the jammer leads to a later confrontation with Shcherba. After receiving Magic Vodka from Dr. Dvupalov, Skif confronts Shcherba, who attempts to expose him to PSI-radiation. The Magic Vodka negates this. The final choice is to kill Shcherba or let him go. Both choices yield the same rewards (a Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy), but sparing Shcherba maintains positive relations.
This detailed guide ensures a smooth progression through "In the Name of Science," maximizing rewards and player choices.
