You see, I would like to warn you. You shouldn't go into the laboratory. Nobody, in fact, should go there: it's linked to major alterations in the psychology and metabolism of an individual, and, I'm afraid, these affects are not reversible.
― Stalker dialogue
Laboratory X-16 is a secret laboratory built near Lake Yantar prior to the 2006 incident. It appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Overview[]
X-16 focused on researching one of the side discoveries of The Group's research: that living creatures are able to generate directed psy-emissions. A biological field emitter, essentially a giant brain, was grown as part of the research, using equipment from Lab X-18[1].
The lab is located beneath the factory complex at Yantar, in a secure underground bunker, sheltered from the outside world. Its structure is fairly uncomplicated, with the main, circular chamber (resembling the shape of a silo) housing the emitter's mechanisms; and the access halls and research facility, where test subjects were kept for study.
The lab contains primarily Zombified Stalkers, Snorks, and a lone Controller. While escaping out of X-16, the player will meet more snorks and a lone Pseudogiant in the underground tunnels.
Appearances[]
Shadow of Chernobyl[]
In Shadow of Chernobyl, X-16 was raided by Vasiliev and Ghost, one of Strelok's companions, before the Marked One's arrival. Both men were later separated after being attacked by a controller, which ultimately killed Ghost, while Vasiliev managed to return to the surface only to meet his end at the hands of the numerous Zombified Stalkers.
Sakharov later sends the Marked One down the lab with the objective of shutting down the emitter. After gaining access to a prototype Psi-helmet, the Marked One makes his way to the facility and deactivates the emitter.
By then, the laboratory is littered with a multitude of small fires (some with bones among the wood), dead and mutilated corpses of stalkers in various states of decomposition, the freshest of which are of Military personnel and the Monolith faction, which indicate a fierce battle was fought inside not too long before.
The laboratory is a rather linear level, with multiple corridors filled with mutants and zombies. The emitter itself is located in a large circular room with multiple levels, where the player must activate switches at every level before using the topmost one to deactivate the emitter for good. Adjacent to the top level of this room is a short corridor leading to the controller's den, a small storage area.
The only exit from the lab (as the elevator near the entrance is deactivated and the ladders close by are broken and can't be reached from the bottom) is a structural fault in one of the basins of the controller's den that leads to a large drainage tunnel network with a manhole access to the surface, which the Marked One used to escape.
Clear Sky[]
Originally, X-16's psy-emitter was called the "Miracle Machine" because it created small scale emissions, though they were not lethal to anyone distant from the factory complex. As a result of a malfunction in its cooling system, the emitter began to create uncontrolled emissions. This caused anyone who was unlucky enough to be caught there while salvaging equipment near it to turn into Zombified Stalkers, wreaking havoc in Yantar.
A stalker team that worked for Sakharov discovered that the emissions were caused by the faulty cooling system. They also discovered that it was cooling an unidentified device located under the complex. This led to the discovery of lab X-16. With this information, Sakharov was able to discover that the cooling device could be repaired from outside lab X-16. He sent Scar and the stalker group led by Lefty to battle the hordes of zombies in the complex and repair the cooling system. The laboratory itself does not appear in the game.
Loot[]
The Documents from Lab X16, requested by Barkeep, are found in the controller's den, on Ghost's body. Ghost also carries a unique armor, the Ghost suit.
A pristine Tunder S14 can be found hidden inside a toilet tank in a restroom just next to the controller den. A Berill-5M armoured suit can be found on the second level of the emitter room, next to the staircase leading to the third level, alongside a SSP-99 Ecologist Suit (in a crate near the Berill-5M).
Random items spawn in small white boxes, such as 7.62x54mm 7N1 rounds, 7.62x54mm 7N14 rounds, 7.62x54mm BP rounds, 9x39mm SP-5 rounds, 9x39mm SP-6 rounds, or Scientific medkits.
The following stashes are found in this level:
Development[]
Originally, X16 was one, big underground part of the Yantar level, as featured in Build 1935. The same went for Agroprom Underground, however both were soon separated, and became their own levels.
Trivia[]
- The laboratory is briefly seen in the introduction slidesof S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.
- Since crates need more knife force to open them on higher difficulty settings, the SSP-99 Ecologist suit has a good chance of falling through the floor and dropping right down to the entrance. Side swipes are more successful.
- The player is capable of entering Lab X-16 without a psi-helmet, as the psi-emissions outside of Lab X-16 can be survived by using enough medical supplies. There is also no psi-field inside Lab X-16 itself, so the player can explore the area without taking damage. The player will instantly die if they enter the room with the Miracle Machine, though.
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
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