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Thanks Geeker. I see what type of base it refers to. But not one I am familiar with. I shall endeavour to remember that for future reference.

I've only got both 26's left and I haven't found any help reading through all the posts - I also studied Maths and Stats so I guess I've forgotten whatever is the key to 26D.

Maybe if someone would just indicate which word(s) form the defintion, if that's not too much of a spoiler?

On the whole a moderately tricky puzzle (26's aside) that I managed in 3 sessions - about average. But...Theme? No idea at all - or maybe it needs extra study to extract it?

Jenna, you've already mentioned the theme in your first para...

26d: I interpreted "design" as the definition. The solution is not the most common usage.

Thanks, geeker, so for 26D I do now see what you aver (before time).

So that indicates that 26A probably is what I think it is, in some fashion, but I still don't know why.

Now I have them both - and yes, the theme is more apparent with both 26s. Thanks again, geeker.

Parsing of 26d is tricky but also thematic.
I posted twice(?) aboveon it, parses as 1 (thematic "base") inside 3 ("soldier").
For a spoiler on "base" see post #60.
The solution is one of two thematic relatives to 26a, as observed by Darla (mprs) above in the thread, which is rather clever on Qaos's part.

This started off easy (1st half) before becoming a real slog for the 2nd half - needed a little of this forum

COD 13d for me.
FOI 10a.
17d a little too easy, even for a novice.

Still not sure how 26a parses

For 26a see post #38

Ah thanks, thought it must be somewhere.

Oh my.... :-D