The security service of Ukraine is calling all right minded and loyal citizens to collaborate with the authorities! Report all known cases of stalking! Do not let the looters hide behind your backs! They bring radioactive, unidentified items from the Zone that are highly dangerous for human health and life! Only with your help can we eliminate this hideous phenomenon! Do not put your lives and the lives of your families at risk for the sake of dubious profit!
― Loudspeaker Broadcasts at the Cordon
The Military checkpoint is a major location in the Cordon in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Overview
It is a small military outpost manned by Ukrainian soldiers whose sole task is controlling the transit of people and goods between the Zone and the outer world. Corruption within the military ranks made it possible for traders like Sidorovich to bring goods in and out of the Zone.
It is one of many located on the edges of the Zone.
Layout
The layout is identical in both games, save for a machine gun's nest on the watchtower. The checkpoint consists of a watchtower located on the side of the road, surrounded by two mobile stations, and an enclosed compound with a two story guardhose, barracks and a parking lot.
Buildings
Watchtower
This brick building on the side of the road provides soldiers with a view of the road to and from the Zone as well as the sides of the valley. A soldier patrols the gantry usually and inside minor loot can be found.
Additionally, in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, a machinegun nest is present in the northwest corner of the gantry, that will open fire automatically if the player comes into view. It is essential to pass through its field of fire to progress the story.
Guard house
Another brick building, this one houses the base commander's office and a small lounge for soldiers on duty. It also has a second story on top, apparently a break room.
Barracks
A long, white building with two large rooms, it is filled with bunk beds and spare crates of equipment. Soldiers sleep here and also, occassionally, high value packages may be stored here.
Inhabitants
The checkpoint is crewed by Ukrainian soldiers, both regular ISS grunts and Spetsnaz operators.
Appearances
Shadow of Chernobyl
It is the target of the quest handed out by Sidorovich who wants you to fetch a brief case with information from the outpost. The reward for this mission is 2000 RU .After clearing the military outpost, more Military soldiers will wait for you at entrance to the Garbage and at end of Cordon. Other than that, the base has no other items of interest other than AKSU-74s.
Clear Sky
In S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky it also has a mounted machine gun which shoots on Stalkers on sight located in a fortified position to the right of the building, to avoid this: the player must get to the left side of the outpost where it will be blind-sided. Unlike in Shadow of Chernobyl, the Spetsnaz guard the base which makes raiding it hard as everyone there is armed with AK-74s and AN-94s. It is also the target of a quest handed out by any loner in the area, where the player has to fetch a special med-kit. The med-kit is located in the guard tower. The base will also regularly send out patrols a short distance outside the base's perimeter on the main road.
Loot
Shadow of Chernobyl
In Shadow of Chernobyl, there isn't much loot to be had here, save for 5.45x39mm rounds and AKSU-74s from the grunts stationed there. Raiding the base isn't a very lucrative option.
Note, get up in the attic over the barraks, plenty of good loot there !
Clear Sky
In Clear Sky, raiding the base early in the game will give the player an edge early in the game although it's an almost suicidal operation as the Spetsnaz will easily overwhelm the player with superior numbers and weaponry. The base guards are armed with rather high-end rifles, the: AK-74 and AN-94. Also there is an ammunition crate in the base's barracks that contains several 5.45x39mm rounds and some RGD-5 grenades, Army Medkits and some Anti-rad located in the guard tower.
Development
The checkpoint went through several iterations before appearing in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Build 1114
At this point, it didn't exist - all that was present was a reinforced gate with a guard tower and floodlights.
Build 1472
In this build, the first version of the checkpoint appeared, introducing a layout similiar to the final version, but differing quite seriously. The watchtower wasn't a brick building, but a classic tower, made out of steel beams and with a metal gantry on top. The guardhouse wasn't made out of brick either - it was a metal shack with an eternite roof and makeshift furniture inside. The barracks were also noticeably smaller.
Gallery
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