In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, completing Dr. Shcherba's side quest, "In the Name of Science," involves several key decisions impacting the mission's outcome. This guide details the quest's progression and the ramifications of each choice.
Collecting the Electronic Collars:
The initial phase requires locating five electronic collars from mutants across the Zone. These locations are pre-determined and marked on your map. If a location isn't showing, you may have already collected the collar. The 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 |
After retrieving all collars, return to Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant. If the quest becomes bugged (e.g., due to previously collected collars), use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to advance.
Jammer Decision:
Upon delivering the collars, Shcherba reveals a jamming signal interfering with their function. He sends Skif to a Storage on the Hill to investigate. Inside, you'll face various enemies before reaching the jamming device. You must choose between:
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Destroying/Disabling the Jammer (Recommended): This progresses the quest, awarding coupons and leading to a confrontation with bloodsuckers and a further choice.
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Recalibrating the Jammer: This concludes the quest with a coupon reward from Dvupalov.
Confrontation with Shcherba:
Disabling the jammer leads to Shcherba contacting Skif, providing coupons, and promising future assistance. The objective changes to "Wait for your reward from Shcherba." Progress may require waiting or using the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab."
Shcherba's subsequent call leads to a trap. You'll receive Magic Vodka from Dvupalov, which is crucial for negating PSI-radiation effects. Escape the room, fight bloodsuckers, and confront Shcherba. You can choose to:
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Kill Shcherba: Results in the same rewards as the next option.
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Let Shcherba Go (Recommended): Maintains positive relations with scientists and Dvupalov.
This concludes the quest, awarding a Gauss Gun and the "On a Leash" trophy.
