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." This quest involves locating electronic collars from various mutants, leading to multiple choices impacting the outcome.
Collecting the Electronic Collars
The initial objective requires finding five electronic collars. Their locations are pre-marked on the map; if fewer locations appear, you've likely already collected some.
| Region | Collar Location | Mutant |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
| Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
| Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
| Malachite | Brain Scorcher | |
| Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
After retrieving all collars, return to Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant. If the quest bugs due to prior collar collection, use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0".
The Jammer Decision: Disable or Recalibrate?
Upon delivering the collars, Shcherba reveals a jamming signal affecting them. He tasks the player with investigating and disabling or recalibrating the jammer located in the Storage on the Hill.
- Destroy/Disable the Jammer (Recommended): This advances the quest, yielding coupons from Shcherba and leading to a bloodsucker encounter and a further choice.
- Recalibrate the Jammer: This concludes the quest with coupons from Dvupalov.
The Final Choice: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer triggers a call from Shcherba, followed by a visit to his lab. You receive Magic Vodka from Dr. Dvupalov. A subsequent encounter involves three bloodsuckers and a confrontation with Shcherba.
The player is presented with a choice: kill Shcherba or let him go. Both options provide the same rewards (a Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy), but sparing Shcherba maintains positive relations with the scientists.
Remember, if Shcherba fails to call, use the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab" to progress. This detailed guide ensures a smooth completion of the "In the Name of Science" quest.
