In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Dr. Shcherba's request for help initiates the side quest "In The Name of Science," tasking players with retrieving electronic collars from various mutants. This detailed guide covers the quest's progression, crucial choices, and potential solutions for common issues.
Locating the Electronic Collars:
This mission involves finding five collars scattered across the game world. If some are missing, you may have already collected them. Below are their 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 |
After gathering all collars, 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 proceed.
Jammer Decision: Disable or Recalibrate?
Upon delivering the collars, Shcherba discovers a signal jamming them. He sends you to a nearby Storage on the Hill to investigate. Inside, you'll face poltergeists, zombified soldiers, and rodents before finding the jamming device.
You face a critical choice:
- Destroy/Disable the Jammer (Recommended): This advances the quest, yielding coupons from Shcherba and triggering a confrontation with bloodsuckers and another pivotal decision.
- Recalibrate the Jammer: This concludes the quest with coupons from Dvupalov.
Final Confrontation: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer leads to Shcherba contacting you, confirming the collars' functionality and sending coupons. The objective changes to "Wait for your reward." You can progress by resting or using the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab".
Shcherba's subsequent call leads to receiving Magic Vodka from Dvupalov. A confrontation ensues involving bloodsuckers and Shcherba. You'll be given a choice:
- Kill Shcherba: This ends the quest.
- Spare Shcherba (Recommended): Maintains positive relations with scientists.
Both choices offer the same rewards: a Gauss Gun from Dvupalov and the "On a Leash" trophy.
This comprehensive guide ensures a smoother experience completing "In The Name of Science" in Stalker 2. Remember the console commands for troubleshooting and choose wisely to navigate this complex side quest.