Burn After Solving

Inter(cep|sec)tion

"We have this stack of intercepted messages," says your instructor, handing you a pile of slips. "They’re cryptic, but you should be able to cross-reference them to figure out how they fit together. Once you’ve done that, a cross-reference in a different direction should put you on the right path."

When printing this puzzle, select the "Print background graphics" option in your printer dialog.

12345678
910
1112
13141516
17181920
212223
2425
2627


    Across
  1. Weakling types parting unkempt hair (7)
  2. .45 for 007, perhaps hidden in Scali bread (7)
  3. Pilot creating message reordering literary works after Arlo leaves (9)
  4. Standard cab is out of control... (5)
  5. ...careening near a colosseum (5)
  6. Banned 2012 film acquired by reporter traveling with troops (9)
  7. Demystify defunct aircraft for those listening (7)
  8. Anonymous United Nations demand nearly sent back (7)
  9. Scramble to smear person running the show? (7)
  10. Ben leaves bench, interrupting one kind of panel researcher (7)
  11. Dismissing recent G.I. Joe’s initial reforms (9)
  12. Entire excavation in a report (5)
  13. Problem is, Mideast canal doesn't close (5)
  14. Pair of spies catching westbound train in public stayed dormant too long (9)
  15. Demands first among various sins (7)
  16. For example, plays tricks at first with gun (7)
    Down
  1. Gaffe from military intelligence post (7)
  2. Pope ally disturbed leader of England's nonclergy (9)
  3. Not exactly five in a row of heads or tails (5)
  4. Cryptanalysts may discover one glib speech by end of session (7)
  5. Arctic residents remove back 30% of car I bought (7)
  6. Without fail, drunken barfly garbled hint for maze (9)
  7. Pre-Oscar party
    for the master of writing
    sentences like this (5)
  8. “Through holding commanding officer” put into ciphertext (7)
  9. Assailants take carts here and there (9)
  10. Most chill half of melons, at minimum (9)
  11. Short skirt worn by beauty with James Bond's cocktail (7)
  12. Threatening operative at the front without inhaling oxygen (7)
  13. Woman ultimately abandoned by coziest intimate (7)
  14. Go back in, crossing Green territory (7)
  15. Flies circling small kids (5)
  16. Our group has a Saint to kill (5)