In Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, after engaging with the C-Consciousness Representative in the Visions of Truth main mission, players will receive a call from Dr. Shcherba. He'll request assistance from Skif, initiating the side mission "In The Name of Science." This mission involves retrieving electronic collars from various mutants scattered across The Zone.
"In The Name of Science" is a detailed and choice-driven side quest, which can significantly impact your gameplay experience. Let's delve into the full scope of the mission and the critical decisions you'll need to make along the way.
How to Find All the Electronic Collars for Dr. Shcherba
The initial phase of the "In The Name of Science" quest involves locating five electronic collars from specific locations marked on your map. If fewer than five locations are visible, you may have already picked up some of these collars during other missions or while exploring The Zone. Below is a detailed breakdown of where to find each collar and the mutant associated with it:
| Region | Collar Location | Mutant |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | The Brood | Snork |
| Wild Island | Boathouse | Psy Bayun |
| Zaton | Hydrodynamics Lab | Controller |
| Malachite | Brain Scorcher | Kill or Buy Collar from Yevhen Mamay |
| Red Forest | Containers | Pseudogiant |
After collecting all the collars, head back to Dr. Shcherba at the Roofed Warehouse in the Chemical Plant region. Be aware that this mission can encounter bugs if you've previously collected and traded the collars to a merchant. If you're unable to retrieve a collar, you can use the console command "XEndQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S2_SetJournal_WaitForSherbaCall_Finish_Pin_0" to advance the quest.
Should You Disable or Recalibrate the Jamming Device?
Upon delivering the collars to Shcherba, he'll discover a jamming signal interfering with the collars' functionality. He'll then ask Skif to investigate the source of this signal and deal with the jamming device located at the Storage on the Hill west of the Roofed Warehouse. Here, you'll face various challenges including poltergeists, zombified soldiers, and rodent mutants before reaching the device.
At the device, you'll have two options:
| Destroy/Disable the Jammer (Recommended) |
|---|
| By destroying the jammer, you'll enable the collars to function, allowing the mission to progress. Shcherba will reward you with coupons, and you'll encounter bloodsuckers, leading to another decision point in the mission. |
| Recalibrate the Jammer |
| Choosing to recalibrate will deactivate the collars permanently. Dvupalov will send coupons as a reward, and the quest will end here. |
Should You Kill or Let Shcherba Go During the "In The Name of Science" Quest?
If you opted to disable the jamming device, Shcherba will confirm the collars are now operational and send Skif some coupons, promising to call again when needed. The mission objective will shift to "Wait for your reward from Shcherba." You can pass the time by completing other missions or resting.
If Shcherba doesn't call back, use the console command "XStartQuestNodeBySID E08_SQ01_S3_Technical_SherbaInvitedToLab" to advance.
When Shcherba eventually calls, return to his lab where Dr. Dvupalov will provide two bottles of Magic Vodka. Proceed to the lower floor of the warehouse where Shcherba awaits with three Bloodsuckers. He'll send Skif to a room for a supposed reward, but it's a trap exposing Skif to PSI-Radiation in an attempt to awaken Faust-like abilities. The Magic Vodka can negate these effects.
After escaping the room and dealing with the Bloodsuckers, you'll confront Shcherba, who is holding Dvupalov at gunpoint. Here, you face the final decision of the mission: to kill Shcherba or let him go. Both choices lead to the same rewards—a Gauss Gun from Dvupalov and the "On a Leash" trophy—but sparing Shcherba is recommended to maintain good relations with the scientists and Dvupalov.
