How to Complete the “Three Captains” Quest in STALKER 2

Embark on the high stakes “Three Captains” mission in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a side quest offered by Sonya Kalyna, the bartender at Sultansk.

This challenging mission demands careful decision-making, as every choice impacts the story, relationships, and rewards.

Your objective: eliminate Sultan and Beard in a secluded location. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you start, complete, and make the best choices to reap most rewards.

1. Three Captains Quest Guide – STALKER 2

In the Three Captains quest in Stalker 2, your objective is to eliminate Sultan and Beard during their secret meeting in an abandoned building at Port Cranes. The suggested approach is to use a sniper rifle from a nearby building to take out both targets.

However, the quest offers multiple outcomes, and you’ll have the option to spare both Sultan and Beard’s lives, adding a layer of complexity to your decision-making.

i. Starting the Quest

To initiate the “Three Captains” side quest, head to Sultansk in Zaton and visit Sonya Kalyna, the NPC bartender. To find her, travel east from the Zalissya Bar in the Lesser Zone and follow the path as it curves southeast.

Once inside, speak with Sonya and inquire about available work. Initially, she’ll point you in Sultan’s direction for smaller tasks. After completing the prerequisite missions “The Mysterious Case” and “Bullseye,” Sonya will assign you the “Three Captains” quest.

From there, the mission marker will guide you to your destination. Let’s look at the details of this quest, the choices you can make and their respective rewards.

ii. Quest Objective

Your mission objective from Sonya is straightforward: eliminate Sultan and Beard. The two are scheduled to meet in secret at an abandoned building near the Port Cranes.

You have the freedom to approach this task as you see fit, with two main options: carry out the assassination as instructed or choose to spare their lives and face the consequences with Sonya.

Both paths come with their own set of risks and rewards, which we’ll explore in more detail.

iii. Choice – Assassinate the Targets

To eliminate Sultan and Beard, you have several options.

• One approach is to head to the giant crane near their meeting spot and climb the ladder where you’ll find two sniper rifles: the Mark I EMR and a Unique AR416.
• Before making your move, you can tune into the radio on the nearby table to eavesdrop on Sultan and Beard’s conversation, which may influence your decision.
• From the crane, position yourself near the window and take aim at the duo.
• Alternatively, you can opt for a more direct approach by infiltrating the building where the meeting is taking place and taking them out up close.

Eliminating Sultan and Beard yields the following rewards:

• RPM-74 Machine Gun, obtained from Sultan’s corpse.
• SPSA-14 Shotgun, retrieved from Beard’s body.
• Coupons from Sonya Kalyna, varying based on difficulty level.
• Ample loot from other enemies in the surrounding area.

However, it’s essential to note that killing Sultan and Beard will permanently remove them from the game, potentially closing off future opportunities and storylines tied to these characters.

iv. Choice – Spare the Targets

If you decide that killing Beard and Sultan isn’t the best option, there’s an alternative path.

• After listening to their conversation on the radio, position yourself at the sniper spot, but refrain from taking the shot. Sonya will urge you to complete the task, but you can ignore her instructions.
• As a result, Beard and Sultan will leave their location, and a group of mercenaries will infiltrate the area.
• Take out the mercenary heading towards the building’s door, then exit your sniper spot and make your way down the crane.
• Be prepared to face a group of mercenaries waiting near the crane. Eliminate them and collect the available loot.
• Once the area is secure, enter the building where Beard and Sultan were meeting and approach the door near the entrance.

Upon entering the building, you’ll find Sultan and Beard alive and they’ll express gratitude by rewarding you with:

• 4,000 Coupons.
• The “Good Ol’ Days” achievement.
• Opportunities for future interactions with these characters in subsequent quests.

However, sparing Sultan and Beard comes with a consequence: you’ll lose access to Sonya Kalyna as an NPC. If you return to her location, you’ll discover that someone else has taken her place, leaving her fate uncertain.

v. Which Choice to Pick?

When deciding whether to kill or spare Sultan and Beard, consider your priorities.

• Kill them: If you’re after powerful loot, such as the RPM-74 Machine Gun and SPSA-14 Shotgun, and prefer completing quests as intended, then killing them might be the way to go.
• Spare them: However, if you value story-driven outcomes, additional achievements, and building goodwill with these characters for future interactions, sparing their lives is the better option.

From a narrative perspective, sparing Sultan and Beard yields more substantial rewards and a more satisfying conclusion. The duo will join forces to run the newly renamed Skadovsk, formerly Sultansk, suggesting a brighter future for the zone.

2. About S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a next-gen sequel that promises a thrilling experience. This highly anticipated game combines the best elements of action, survival, and horror, set in the hauntingly beautiful Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

In this immersive game, you’ll play a major part in a non-linear story that unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world. With the fate of the Zone in your hands, you’ll face tough choices and challenges that will test your survival skills.

Are you ready to dive into the heart of Chornobyl?