Chapter LXXXI: Journey to Uncharted Waters

The athmosphere inside the Yantar scientific bunker remained tense. While the machines and computers still hummed like normal, the inhabitants were gloomier than Dark Valley. Ever since the Sin assault had been repelled, everyone had turned their minds on what to do next. Sakharov was grateful for the assistance of the three Redemption members, but they had brought troubling news indeed. Especially Boris' vision had been a blow to morale.

• And you are certain that the first thing you saw was the Duga antenna of Limansk? First thing of note at least?, Sakharov asked impatiently.

• Yes. It was shining, and at the time I thought it was moonlight, but the sky was covered in thick clouds. It was just a flash, but it did strike me as an oddity, Boris answered, racking his brain for even the slightest clue.

• That's not good. We knew of the mind-control experiments performed in Limansk, but all the documentation suggested that they had failed miserably until the later emitters of the Group era. I seem to recall Hatchet's team finding a stack of reports on reconfiguring the Duga antenna to be an emitter, but we never took it seriously. I could try to look for it, Kruglov chimed in, his usual analytical voice betraying growing concerns.

• Well, they're still going to need something powerful enough to cause psi-emissions. And the only places for devices like that are here in Yantar and at the X-19 laboratory, Sakharov commented, deep in thought.

• Not quite so, unfortunately, a familiar voice came behind. Boris and Kruglov turned to face the speaker.

The newcomer was Strelok, dressed in his typical Helmetless SEVA suit, sporting a SIG 550 sniper at his back. His face was weary, it had clearly been as exhausting few days for him as it had been for Boris.

• Good to see you alive and, maybe not well, you do look like a corpse Boris. And you too Kruglov, it's been a while. But to the matter at hand. As you know, the areas west of here are not explored, as they have cut off by emitters. We thought that after the emitters were disabled, they could be explored, but that is not the case. Now, Sakharov's hypothesis was that it was residual psi-energy lingering in the area which would soon dissipate, but no one really went there to check. Until now, Strelok explained.

• You've been there?, Boris asked. Strelok nodded.

• I went there with Guide who somehow can sense these things, and we found no sign of psychic emissions. It was absolutely crawling with Zombified and mutants however, so I headed back to get reinforcements. I want to go back and see if the area is clear now because Sin has somehow removed the thing causing the emissions. Miracle Machine wasn't the only place they had one of those psi-brains.

• Indeed, I had hoped that all others had been destroyed or decayed to the point of no return. For all our sakes, I hope I was right, Sakharov commented.

• Whether you are right or not, we need to check the place out. I want to leave nothing to chance with Sin, they've proven to be quite the problem already, Strelok continued.

• My squad is at your disposal, Boris replied.

• I would be very interested as well, but only if Sakharov can spare me, Kruglov said as well. The senior researcher did agree on it.

Strelok nodded to the two volunteers and they went outside, where Zakarov also joined the expedition. Ever since Boris described his visions, a zeal to stop them from happening had awoken in the somewhat timid scientist. Strelok inspected the assembled squad, six men strong now. They spent the rest of the day preparing and gathering gear, leaving after a last night in the bunker. The journey through the hills bordering Yantar was uneventful, snorks did wander the area but were dispatched quickly by the group's firepower.

The group soon arrived to a road, its pavement old and full of holes, grass pushing towards the sky from its cracks. Derelict vehicles littered the winding path, and among them Witches Jelly anomalies had turned the asphalt into black and green sludge. An abandoned checkpoint came into sight, and the stalkers rose up a small hill once more. Reaching the hilltop, the entire valley spread in front of them. There were multiple small bases scattered around, each clearly covering some facility, but the most distinct one was a large concrete building surrounded by radar dishes and a large, now empty river, as if the radar base had had a moat.

• Well, we're definitely in uncharted territory, Sanyok said quietly, observing the dried up riverbed and base ahead.

Before anyone could answer him, a voice told them to drop their weapons and turn around slowly. Someone slapped the slide of their weapon down with an audible clank.

• Ruki vverkh, stalkers, or you'll receive another airhole on your body. Quickly now!, a deep voice, like that of a preacher, commanded. Whoever it was, the group had been caught badly in the open.