Free the Dutyer from prison

Free the Dutyer from prison is an undocumented, level-dependent storyline mission appearing in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Lost Alpha.

“

Marked One, Petrenko here, I had an operative of mine disappear. He hasn't contacted us for a very long time and rumour is he is being held captive by the bandits. I can still pick up his PDA on my tracker so please, I will give you the PDA signal and see if you can track it and find him. But beware, helping him may make the locals hostile towards you.
- Petrenko, mission briefing

”

Overview[]

The mission is spawned and assigned to the player shortly after their initial return to the Dark Valley from Darkscape.
The mission may be safely ignored if the player so decides; see Main Mission Strategy for the consequential details.
Due to the fact that the player previously left the Dark Valley in haste, still affiliated to the Bandits' faction; this mission is designed to remove this status, return the player to membership of the Loners' faction and alienate the player from both the Bandits and the Monolithians.
The Prison key to the cell lies on the desk of the Bandits' Trader. Taking it in the DC version turns the bandits against you.

Strategies[]

Simple release[]

Orthodox play (v1.3003) would have the player take the Prison key; release Shaggy Sergei and fight their way out of the Bandit Base.
On talking to the target, he wishes the player:

“

Best of luck!!
- Shaggy Sergei, on release

”

..prior to teleporting off the gameboard out of harm's way.

Getting out of the Base is not difficult. The window above the jail basement has a opening to climb out of and the only notable threat in that direction is a somewhat idle Poker.
This particular strategy has the greatest chance of success.

Rambo release[]

Attacking the Bandit Base with all guns blazing is not difficult but frequently results in the prisoner being executed before the player can reach him (v1.3003)

Covert tactics[]

Sniper and silenced attacks are fruitless.
The first attack upon a Bandit member alienates the whole faction (and the Monolith faction)
Chatting with Borov, obtaining the code to his safe (2-9-5) and taking Borov's Documents alienates the whole faction (and the Monolith faction)
Chatting with Borov, obtaining the code to his safe (2-9-5) and eliminating him with a couple of cheap Petrol cans from the local trader, alienates the whole faction (and the Monolith faction)
Note that stealing the document only turns the Bandits hostile when the player leaves the base with them (1.4007)
In short, Borov's death turns them hostile, whether achieved openly or indirectly.
All of the above stratagems may well result in the death of the objective prisoner and leave the player with twenty enemies locally and another twenty-six more heavily armed foes at the Monolith Base later on.

Conclusions[]

If the player is desperate to have a 'clean slate' then concluding any business at the Monolith Base and Lab X18 is much easier whilst still bandit-affiliated. There is no need for a further visit there afterwards if the lab has already been ransacked.

Notes[]

There is no need to return to Petrenko after the mission for debriefing, just talking to Shaggy Sergei is sufficient to conclude it.

Trivia[]

The mission is best ignored if you still want to be a bandit.
(1.4007) Successful liberation of Shaggy Sergei grants one skill point.
N.B. The skill point is not announced on the game screen as is typical, but added 'silently' to the skills module tally.