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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, locating Professor Lodochka at Quite's Camp. Expect an immediate priority: eliminating mercenaries marked on your map. These enemies are readily identifiable, eliminating the need for extensive searching.
Prepare for further encounters; this isn't the only combat in this mission. Eliminate all marked enemies to progress and locate 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. Be prepared for 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 remaining mission, though it doesn't offer unique rewards.
Find the Signal Source
Consider acquiring better weaponry before proceeding; the next objective presents significant challenges. Locate the marked cave entrance near the water. Navigate westward through the caverns, descending and overcoming obstacles. A broken pipe provides access to higher cave levels.
Follow the marker to a large cone-shaped spire. The emitter is located at the marked point beside it. An invisible enemy will likely ambush you on your exit. Return to Lodochka to complete the mission, unlocking "Hornet's Nest" as the next main objective.