I have run into a big problem while playing Stalker: SOC. I am playing vanilla SOC (version 1.0006) off of Steam, if this info helps any. So here's the problem and how it happened:
I was leaving the bar area to go to the Wild Territory so I could then enter Yantar (I'm off to go to X-16). I was about to enter the entrance to the Wild Territory when I started getting shot at. I turned and saw a Merc in the road to the Army warehouses, which I have yet to explore. Annoyed at the Merc, I opened fire with my SGI-5k and blew him away. I got a funny message at the bottom corner of the screen saying there was a murderer on the run and that everyone was to find and kill him. There was also an announcement that a killing in Duty territory had occured.
Anyhow, I shrugged it off, thinking they were talking about the Merc. After all, he would've attacked anyone. I went off into Wild Territory and completed one of my sidequests- destroy the lair of wild mutant dogs at Wild Territory. Looking how close I was to the bar, I thought, "Hey, maybe I could turn this job in. I'm in no rush to do anything." And thus I turned back to turn the job in. To my horror, upon passing the Duty guards I ran into my fellow loners who pulled guns on me and opened fire. I quickloaded my save. Unfortunately, I have a habit of quicksaving a ton, (especially as of late since I am picking up SOC after several years) and soon found that I had saved too recently; the Merc's death on Duty territory was in full effect.
Now reputation is at Terrible (sad too, because I had an excellent one previously) and I become a walking target upon entering the Bar area.
Does anyone know what to do? I know this issue can't be too rare.