Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's "In the Name of Science" Side Quest: A Complete Guide
After the Visions of Truth mission, Dr. Shcherba contacts Skif, initiating the side quest "In the Name of Science." This quest involves retrieving electronic collars from various mutants and presents players with crucial choices impacting the outcome.
Collecting the Electronic Collars
The first step is locating five electronic collars scattered across the Zone. These locations are marked on your map; however, if some are missing, you may have already collected them during other missions. Here's a breakdown:
| Region | Collar Location | Mutant |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
| Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
| Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
| Malachite | Brain Scorcher | Brain Scorcher |
| Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
Once collected, return to Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant. If you've previously collected and sold collars, the quest might bug. Use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to fix this.
The Jammer Decision: Disable or Recalibrate?
Shcherba discovers a signal jamming the collars. You must investigate and choose between disabling or recalibrating the jamming device located in the Storage on the Hill.
- Disable/Destroy the Jammer (Recommended): This progresses the quest, rewards you with coupons, and leads to a bloodsucker encounter and a further choice.
- Recalibrate the Jammer: You receive coupons from Dvupalov, and the quest concludes.
The Final Choice: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer leads to Shcherba contacting Skif, providing coupons, and promising future assistance. Wait (or use the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab" if needed) for his next call.
He'll then lead you into a trap, exposing you to PSI-radiation. Dvupalov's Magic Vodka negates this. You must escape, fight bloodsuckers, and confront Shcherba. You then choose to kill or spare him. Both choices yield the same rewards (a Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy), but sparing Shcherba maintains positive relations.
