Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's "In the Name of Science" Side Quest: A Complete Guide
Following the Visions of Truth main mission, players receive a call from Dr. Shcherba, initiating the side quest "In the Name of Science." 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. Their locations are pre-marked on the map; however, if some are missing, it's likely they were collected during prior missions or exploration.
| 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 |
After retrieving all collars, return to Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant. If the quest becomes bugged (due to prior collar acquisition and sale), use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to proceed.
The Jammer Decision: Disable or Recalibrate?
Upon delivering the collars, Shcherba reveals a signal jamming their functionality. Players must investigate and choose to either disable or recalibrate the jamming device located in the Storage on the Hill.
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Destroy/Disable the Jammer (Recommended): This advances the quest, rewards coupons, and leads to a bloodsucker encounter and a further choice.
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Recalibrate the Jammer: This concludes the quest with coupons from Dvupalov as a reward.
The Final Choice: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer triggers a call from Shcherba, followed by a request to return to his lab. Players receive Magic Vodka from Dr. Dvupalov, then encounter a trap involving bloodsuckers and a confrontation with Shcherba.
The final choice is to kill or spare Shcherba. Both options yield the same rewards (a Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy), but sparing Shcherba maintains positive relations with the scientists.
Remember to use the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab" if Shcherba fails to contact you. This comprehensive guide ensures a smooth completion of the "In the Name of Science" quest in Stalker 2.
