In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, assisting Dr. Shcherba in the "In the Name of Science" side quest presents players with multiple branching paths and impactful decisions. This guide details the quest's progression, choices, and their consequences.
Collecting the Electronic Collars:
The quest begins with locating five electronic collars from various mutant corpses. These are typically found in designated areas, though prior exploration might have already yielded some. The collar locations are:
| Region | Collar Location | Mutant Type |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
| Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
| Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
| Malachite | Brain Scorcher | Brain Scorcher |
| Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
Return to Shcherba in the Roofed Warehouse (Chemical Plant) after collecting all collars. If you encounter issues (e.g., previously collected collars), use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to proceed.
The Jamming Device: Disable or Recalibrate?
Shcherba discovers a signal jamming the collars. You must investigate and interact with the jamming device in the Storage on the Hill. The choice is:
- Destroy/Disable the Jammer (Recommended): This continues the quest, leading to further rewards and encounters, including a confrontation with bloodsuckers and a subsequent crucial choice.
- Recalibrate the Jammer: This ends the quest with a smaller reward from Dvupalov.
The Final Confrontation: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer leads to a call from Shcherba, followed by a meeting at his lab. You receive Magic Vodka from Dr. Dvupalov. A trap is sprung, exposing you to PSI radiation. The vodka mitigates this. You must escape, fight bloodsuckers, and confront Shcherba. The choice:
- Kill Shcherba: Yields the same rewards as sparing him.
- Spare Shcherba (Recommended): Maintains positive relations with scientists and Dvupalov.
Regardless of your choice, you receive a Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy. This concludes the "In the Name of Science" side quest.
