The events of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat unfold shortly after the end of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl following the ending in which Strelok destroys the C-Consciousness. Having discovered the open path to the Zones center, the government decides to stage a large-scale operation to take control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
According to the operation's plan, the first military group is to conduct an air scouting of the territory to map the anomalous fields. Thereafter, making use of the maps, the main military forces are to be dispatched.
Despite thorough preparations, the operation fails. Most of the advanced helicopters crash. In order to collect information on the reasons for the operation's failure, Ukraine's Security Service send their agent (protagonist - Alexander Degtyaryov) into the Zone. From now on everything depends on the player.
The player must traverse the Zone and investigate the crash sites. As the player progresses he starts learning how the helicopters were shot down. The climax of the story begins when the player reaches Pripyat to find survivors of the helicoptor crashes. The player eventually meets Strelok from the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game (Shadow of Chernobyl) and learns of the secrets behind the Zone.
The game concludes with the survivors, Strelok, and the player leaving the Zone. Before boarding the helicopter the player is prompted rather he wishes to leave The Zone forever or continue exploring the Zone. If the player is to select not to leave the Zone, then the game enters a free-play mode.
