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Navigating S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl involves crucial decisions impacting gameplay. The mission "Just Like the Good Old Days" follows either "To the Last Drop of Blood" or "Law and Order," culminating in an escape from the SIRCAA.
Talk to Professor Lodochka at Wild Island
Proceed to the Wild Island mission marker to locate Professor Lodochka at Quite's Camp. Expect an immediate priority objective: eliminating mercenaries. These enemies will be clearly marked on your map.
Equip yourself well, as further encounters await. Eliminate all marked mercenaries to access Lodochka. An optional objective, "Activate the Ventilation System," will then become available.
Activate the Ventilation System
Consult your map for a marked fuse. After retrieving it, another marker will appear to the north, leading to the engineering rooms. Beware of an invisible enemy within.
Enter the shelter, navigate the passageways to the engine room, and use the fuse to restore power to the ventilation system. This optional objective simplifies the main mission, though it doesn't offer unique rewards.
Find the Signal Source
Consider upgrading your weaponry before proceeding. Locate the marked cave entrance near the water. Navigate the caverns westward, descending and traversing obstacles. A broken pipe provides access to higher cave levels.
Find the large cone-shaped spire and locate the emitter at the marked point beside it. An invisible enemy will guard your exit. Return to Professor Lodochka to complete the mission and unlock "Hornet's Nest."