I used to see him now and then in the research camp when I came with a loot to sell. He looked a normal buddy. Big and robust, you'd never think him one of the eggheads. He gave me good price on artifacts, was always happy to chat about this and that... and what a stupid end. He was fussing with his gear right near the ‘Whirligig’ when these rascals started to shoot. He got thrown into the anomaly, then twisted. When we finished the combat, there was left nothing but shreds of his overalls at the ‘whirligig’.
― Local folklore
The Ecologists (Экологи) are government-funded researchers operating into the Zone.
Overview[]
Operating under orders from the Ukrainian government, the Ecologists are a group focusing on researching the Zone, in order to properly harness its potential for the good of mankind. Their base of operations is a sturdy bunker at Lake Yantar, filled with scientific apparatuses and a steady supply of weapons and ammunition. The head researcher is Professor Sakharov, a veteran Ecologist, who participated in the first expeditions into the Zone in 2007. Originally the Ukrainian Military itself protected the scientists' bunker, but their garrison force was all but obliterated by emissions of the Miracle Machine in lab X16, turning the survivors into zombies. The scientists now greatly rely on Loners and Mercenaries looking for work, or Duty to do their field work, since most Ecologists aren't particularly combat-proficient.
The Ecologists focus primarily on research of new energy sources, antigravity, genome modification and teleportation, spearheading revolutionary research by studying and dissecting artifacts and mutants.
Another one of their key areas of research was Lab X-16 and the psi emitter located within. In order to be able to explore the area safely, they created a special Psi-Helmet, which can protect the wearer from low intensity psionic fields.
Recently after the Brain Scorcher was de-activated, the Ecologists expanded further into the zone with their new mobile laboratory based in Yanov under the leadership of Professor Hermann.
Of all the Zone's factions, the Ecologists are the most neutral, only being enemies to the Monolith, and in Shadow of Chernobyl: Wolfhound's Mercenaries or Freedom.
Notable members[]
- Professor Sakharov
- Professor Kruglov
- Professor Vasiliev
- Assistant Semenov
- Professor Hermann
- Professor Ozersky
- Novikov (only in Call of Pripyat)
- Iskra Scientific Research and Investigation Team
Equipment[]
The scientists aren't great fighters, as their usual SSP-99 Ecologist Suits don't offer much in terms of protection. Coupled with their weak skills in firearms, they tend to pose little threat to anyone. For the most part, members of the Ecologist faction are found dead or wandering Yantar and the Wild Territory. Because of the poor weapons and armor these men have, they will most likely be killed by wild dogs or zombified stalkers. As such, they prefer to rely on stalkers to gather mutant body parts and artifacts for them, paying handsomely for each item brought to their bunker, and hire them as escorts as in the case of Scar . In addition, they have a selection of suits and weapons to offer to those working for them. An example of this is Lefty.
While their funding comes primarily from Ukraine and Russia, it is likely there is a heavy amount of worldwide interest, as in the Wild Territory scientists are armed with the British IL 86 and German Walker P9m. While their basic SSP-99 is primarily built for anomalous area exploration than combat, they do have an upgraded, modified version available, the SSP-99M Suit, which sports increased protection against firearms while retaining optimum protection against the zone's hazardous elements. They also distribute the renowned SEVA Suit, created by a Kiev research bureau. Kruglov can also be given weapons by the player in Shadow of Chernobyl, the only condition is that the weapon dropped to him must be stronger than his current weapon.
Appearances[]
Shadow of Chernobyl[]
In Shadow of Chernobyl, the Ecologists have set up a Mobile Lab in Yantar near Lab X-16. During the course of the main story, the player can encounter Professor Kruglov, a scientist pinned down by Mercenaries led by Wolfhound in the Wild Territory, who are looking for his research data. Regardless of Kruglov's fate, the player later meets Professor Sakharov in the Yantar lab itself. Sakharov provides the Marked One with a Psi-helmet and asks him to deactivate the Kaymanov emitter inside Lab X-16. After recovering the Documents from Lab X16, the Ecologists play no further role in the story. The Mobile Lab is initially unguarded; after obtaining the X-16 documents, Duty will send a detachment to protect the lab from nearby Zombified Stalkers.
Clear Sky[]
In Clear Sky, a group of Ecologists is briefly seen in the intro cutscene of the game, being guided by Scar throughout the Great Swamps before they are annihilated by an Emission. Sakharov and the Yantar Mobile Lab also return in the game. Unlike in Shadow of Chernobyl, the lab is guarded by a number of Loners, namely Lefty and his team. During the main story, Sakharov asks Scar to help Lefty fix Lab X-16's main cooling system to reduce the intensity of psi emissions, in exchange for information about Strelok's whereabouts. Likewise, the Ecologists play no further role in the main story.
Call of Pripyat[]
In Call of Pripyat, the Ecologists have now set up a new Mobile Lab near Yanov Station. The lab personnel is now led by Professor Hermann and Professor Ozersky, and includes stalker employees such as Novikov and Garry. The ecologists' lab is guarded by a group of Mercenaries led by Black, although unbeknownst to Hermann and his team, the mercs are part of a secret operation led by fellow mercenary Jackal, and their job is mainly to monitor and sabotage the scientists' operations.
Unlike the previous two games, the Ecologists do not play a role in the main story; they, however, can provide the player with a number of side missions. The Ecologists have two possible endings depending on the player's interaction with them; if the player completed most of their missions, the ending slide reveals that Hermann's expedition facilitated the development of groundbreaking medicine and technology, which prompted the Ukrainian Ministry of Education to allocate additional funding for researching in the Zone. Alternatively, if the player only completes a few of their missions (or does not engage with them at all), the ending slide reveals that Hermann's expedition was cut short due to the lack of results and left the Zone to engage in unrelated work.
Gallery[]
Pre-release[]
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