Eliminate the mercs

 is an optional one-shot side-mission that appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Lost Alpha.

Overview

 * This is one of two available side-missions available from Barkeep when he relocates to the Outskirts Bar.

Strategy

 * If the player is going to take this mission on, then it may be profitable to combine it with side-missions from Alex and Lukash.
 * Drawing the Mercs out of the Service Area so that they attempt flanking moves and sacrifice their cover in the process is one option.
 * Grenades will also soften them up, but this will also damage any weapon loot.
 * In general, about ten opponents will defend the Service Area, two more the Docks, and the others will inhabit the nearby shipwreck that vaguely resembles the Skadovsk.

Trivia

 * v1.30013 - 1.4005:


 * Sometimes, one lone Merc will make a nuisance of himself if the player acquires the Moskvich or UAZ Jeep from the southern end of Darkscape and visited the Abandoned Village in the process.
 * Killing him isn't a problem, and Barkeep will still issue this mission later in the game, but it has an excellent likelihood of not completing properly.
 * v1.4007:


 * In later versions only around five or six mercenaries seem to respawn (if the player exterminated the original defenders) and one or more of these may be located "under the boardwalk" to the south of Docklands which may initially be out of detection range.
 * The mission is usually open to resolution if the player searches the area thoroughly for opponents.
 * Marginally improved financial reward.
 * Decreased 'consequences' improvement.