Solution to Cryptic Transmission
Solution
The title suggests that these are cryptic clues, and indeed they are. However they aren't exactly the standard single definition and single wordplay clues - often, there are more parts! Anyway, solve the clues:
Across
- Dance, replacing roasted heart with medium / Kobe / beef originally ingested by mother / snake = MAMBA
[_s_→M]AMBA / def / MAM(B_)A / def - Everything taking to / a cost / at endless polls = ATOLL
A(TO)LL / A+TOLL / AT+_OLL_ - Prime / brew of ether / ash conceals start of hidden / letter count of this puzzle's answer = THREE
def / THREE* / T(H_)REE / def - Confused shore / firefighter / uncovered western cresol after first hiding / parts of those remains = HOSER
HOSER* / def / H_+_OSER_< / hidden (tHOSE Remains) - Didn't pay attention to / beginning signs, jumped uncentered, / was knocked out / and metaphorically died = SLEPT
def / S_+LE(-a)PT / def / def
Down
- Misguided principal at high school / oddly meant this / turned fake over time = MATHS
M_+AT+HS / M_A_T_H_S / MA(T)HS< (fake=sham rev.) - Massachusetts town / playwright Fugard / is outspoken jerk with a lisp = ATHOL
def / def / ATHOL ("asshole" homophone, with a lisp) - Piece detailed / the next step to this puzzle: / British inspector = MORSE
MORSE[-l] / def / def - Censorship: / above-average cover up = BLEEP
def / B + LEEP< - Drunkenly alter / notification / (wary / retweet) after beer = ALERT
ALERT* / def / def / ALE+RT
These fit into a 5×5 word square (and can be used to help get the trickier clues) as follows:
M | A | M | B | A |
A | T | O | L | L |
T | H | R | E | E |
H | O | S | E | R |
S | L | E | P | T |
One of the clues suggests what to do next: Morse code. Wordplays tend to be longer than definitions, so they should be assigned dashes (although if you do the other direction, .-.- turns out not to be valid English Morse). Thus, we get:
Across:MAMBA = -.-. = C
ATOLL = --- = O
THREE = .--. = P
HOSER = -.-- = Y
SLEPT = .-.. = L
Down:
MATHS = --- = O
ATHOL = ..- = U
MORSE = -.. = D
BLEEP = .- = A
ALERT = -..- = X
Using the final enumeration, we get COPY LOUD AX. This is another cryptic clue with enumeration provided as 3, resolving to the answer "copy" = F+AX = FAX.