Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's "In the Name of Science" Side Quest: A Complete Guide
After the Visions of Truth main mission, Dr. Shcherba will contact Skif, initiating the side quest "In the Name of Science." This quest involves retrieving electronic collars from various mutants and navigating several crucial choices.
Locating the Electronic Collars
The first step is to find five electronic collars scattered throughout the Zone. Their locations are marked on your map. If some locations aren't showing, you may have already collected them during other missions or exploration. Here's a breakdown:
| Region | Collar Location | Mutant |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
| Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
| Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
| Malachite | Brain Scorcher | |
| Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
Return to Shcherba in the Roofed Warehouse (Chemical Plant) once you've gathered all five collars. If you encounter issues (e.g., previously collected collars), use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to advance the quest.
The Jammer Decision: Disable or Recalibrate?
Shcherba will discover a signal jamming the collars. You must investigate and choose between disabling or recalibrating the jamming device located in the Storage on the Hill (west of the Roofed Warehouse).
- Disable/Destroy the Jammer (Recommended): This continues the quest, rewards you with coupons, and leads to a bloodsucker encounter and another significant choice.
- Recalibrate the Jammer: This ends the quest, granting coupons from Dvupalov.
The Final Choice: Kill or Spare Shcherba?
Disabling the jammer triggers a call from Shcherba, followed by a trip to his lab. You'll receive Magic Vodka from Dr. Dvupalov, encounter bloodsuckers, and face a final choice: kill Shcherba or let him go. Both choices yield the same rewards (Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy), but sparing Shcherba maintains positive relationships with the scientists.
This comprehensive guide ensures a smooth completion of the "In the Name of Science" quest, maximizing your rewards and relationships within the game. Remember to use the provided console commands if you encounter any bugs.
