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The subject of this article appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The subject of this article appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. The subject of this article appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.

Well, well... I seldom see a new face here! So, what would you like to know?
― Sakharov

Professor Sakharov (Ru. Сахаров) is a veteran scientist appearing in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. He is also mentioned in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.

Background[]

Veteran researcher of the Zone. Participated in the first expeditions in 2007[non-game. 1].

Sakharov was giving lectures on genetics at an unspecified university[quote. 1] before he eventually moved to the Zone, becoming the head of a scientific expedition established in the remains of Lake Yantar. He employs a number of stalkers for a variety of jobs, such as protection and field research[quote. 2], though he is also known to work with Duty and the military[quote. 3].

Appearances[]

Shadow of Chernobyl[]

Sakharov resides in the mobile lab in Yantar, and must be visited as part of the main story after collecting the Documents from Lab X18, part 4, as Barkeep claims that he might know something about Lab X-16 where more documents can be found. When talked to, Sakharov tells the Marked One that he and his team have been interested in the laboratory and its powerful psy-emitter (dubbed "Miracle Machine") for some time, hiring a stalker known as Ghost to accompany one of his assistants, Vasiliev, into the laboratory, although neither returned alive from this mission[quote. 4].

Sakharov later asks the Marked One to accompany Professor Kruglov (or Assistant Semenov if Kruglov was killed beforehand) probe the psy-field around the Production complex so that he can develop a Psi-helmet capable of inhibiting the effects of the psy-field onto the brain. After the player obtains the helmet, Sakharov directs them towards the body of Vasiliev, who holds information about the entrance to X-16.

Sakharov also provides a number of side missions.

Trading[]

Related missions[]

Main story missions[]
Side missions[]

Clear Sky[]

In Clear Sky, Sakharov is also found at the mobile lab and also plays a role in the storyline. The player is directed towards him after learning that Strelok had visited him in search for a device that would provide protection against the Brain Scorcher. Sakharov warns Scar that the Miracle Machine's emissions are lethal, and that the only way through the complex is to find the origin of the emission so that it can be studied.

Scar helps Sakharov deal with the issue by recovering data about the Machine from a group of stalkers that succumbed to the effects of the psy-field. The documents reveal that the Machine is man-made, and that a failure of the Machine's cooling system is responsible for the bursts of psy-activity around the area[quote. 5]. Scar is sent alongside Sakharov's assistant, a stalker named Lefty, to fix the cooling pumps so that the psy-field can be stabilized. After doing so, Sakharov thanks the player and tells them that Strelok has headed for the Red Forest.

Unlike in Shadow of Chernobyl, he does not provide any side missions.

Trading[]

Related missions[]

Call of Pripyat[]

Sakharov does not appear in the game, but is occasionally mentioned. Hermann mentions for instance that he has visited his bunker several times[quote. 6]. In addition, the "Psy-Dome band" upgrade available on several outfits is said to have been developed by Sakharov[quote. 7].

Dialogue[]

Quote Condition

Hello, hello.

Approaching Sakharov

Hmm...

Idle

*clears throat*

Let's see...

What have we here?

Damn, not again...

You're the only person who can go, you've got to understand! It's highly important that we do the measurements now!

Talking with Kruglov/Semenov, first visit at the lab

I'm begging you, please, do it! We all depend on it!

What happened?! Is he dead?! Come back immediately!

If Kruglov/Semenov is killed before the measurements

What happened?! Is he dead?! Take the samples and come back immediately!

If Kruglov/Semenov is killed after the measurements

Great job Marked One, you actually made it into the lab. It is vital that we study the installation in the lab. Try to deactivate it so we can examine it properly.

Entering Lab X-16

Listen, the prototype can't protect you from the strong emission forever. I provided for this. When you get hit by a strong field, a timer will start ticking. As soon as the timer runs out, the prototype will stop protecting you. So take care, and remember about the timer.

Great work Marked One, the emission has been deactivated, and you're still alive. I need to warn you however: we called in a couple of military helicopters to clear the area of zombies. You would be advised not to wander around unless you have to. Oh and by the way, drop by our bunker every once in a while, won't you?

Leaving Lab X-16 and the underground tunnel after turning off the Miracle Machine

Quote Condition

How are you, young man?

Greeting

Welcome to our humble science lab.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

Best wishes.

Farewell

It was nice talking to you.

Please, come back some time.

Dearest Lefty. I have some new data. It appears that we should be able to stabilize the psy-emissions. A young man is on his way, so please wait for him and further instructions.

After obtaining the mission to join Lefty

Lefty, according to my data the psy-emissions are generated by an unidentified device located under the factory. The psy-field is unstable because of a malfunction in that device's cooling station. Your objective is to restart the cooling system. I have sent all the information you require to your PDA. The diagram indicates two valves used to initiate the restart. You must activate both valves. Get in position and I'll inform you when psy-emissions fall to a safe level.

After obtaining the mission to join Lefty and leaving the lab

Lefty, the psy-field emission level is currently at its lowest. Please begin the operation! All our hopes and prayers are with you! Good luck!

After talking with Lefty

You did it! My sensors show that psy-emission levels are falling! That means that the cooling station is stable. I very much hope that Yantar will become a quieter place from here on in!

After restarting the cooling system

Thank you, merc. By the way, I'm getting a decent signal from Strelok. It looks like he's not far from you, heading straight for the Red Forest.

Glitches[]

Shadow of Chernobyl[]

  • The quests in which he requests various mutant body parts are partially glitched. For example, when he asks for a Boar's Hoof, he only accepts a Blind Dog tail.
  • Sakharov can be talked to and traded with even when hostile, which may happen when joining Freedom.
  • There is a glitch that makes Sakharov stay in the back of the lab, still calling "Hello, hello?" but unable to move and interact with the player.
  • It's possible for items left on top of the bunker to glitch inside. If this happens to a weapon, Sakharov may pick it up and walk around his lab with it equipped.

Clear Sky[]

  • Sakharov had a rare minor bug that instead of spawning him inside the bunker, he would spawn outside it and block the door; since his AI was not programed to open doors. This was not a major issue, since Sakharov was invulnerable and zombies had no chance in killing him, but still a slight inconvenience for those who stashed a few items inside the bunker. After patch 1.5.05 and beyond, the chances of Sakharov being bugged was drastically reduced, but not fully prevented as it still happened after 1.5.05. To remove him out of his bugged state, the player must exit the Yantar area and re-enter.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • He is possibly named after Andrei Sakharov, a Soviet physicist who notably worked on the Soviet nuclear program.
  • In Shadow of Chernobyl, he curiously does not recognize Strelok despite having worked with him in the past.

References[]

Sources
  1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R stable_bio_name.xml, id=yan_saharov_bio
Quotes
  1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Sakharov: "We got acquainted with Semenov back in the university where I was giving lectures on genetics, and he was my student. Thus I became his scientific chief. Back then, we were only slightly unveiling the curtain of mystery of genome modification."
  2. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Random dialogue: "I'm helping the scientists carry out their research. Not directly, of course. Me and the boys defend them against zombies, guard their expeditions, and bring Sakharov various artifacts, mutant organs and other crap he asks for."
  3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Sakharov: "We called in a couple of military helicopters to clear the area of zombies. You would be advised not to wander around unless you have to."
  4. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Sakharov: "Vasiliev worked on the laboratory problem. About a week ago, he and stalker by the name of Ghost attempted to get inside the laboratory. After several hours we felt a shake and emissions stopped; after another hour, we got a signal from Vasiliev, it was coming from the swamp but then vanished. By the looks of things, Vasiliev is gone."
  5. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Sakharov: "It seems that these bursts of psy-activity occur as a result of failure in the device's cooling system... If we could repair it, that would significantly reduce psy-emission levels."
  6. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Hermann: "That said, I did visit Sakharov's laboratory a few times."
  7. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Installation of the Psy-Dome band: "Hi-tech psy-protection that is said to have been invented by a scientist called Sakharov."
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