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Maybe there's 'destroy' in the second part of message...to tie in with destruction in the preamble.

Hi Lulu,

The message is 3,3,6.9,2,8,4,2,4 (Lumen, yes to 'destroyed')

the extra words in the last 3 across clues are the 5th, 11th and 1st

17d - 1,1 for "adult hostel" reversed/upset' inside "man's"

24d - anagram of "topless pipe" + "player" minus the letters from "evidentally on vacation" - definition is "a little wave"

Sorry minus letters from "evidently on vacation"

Apologies again, I've been up all night...

the last part of the message is 9,4,2,4

Brendan, for more clarity - did you mean Anagram of topless 'pipe' + 'player'.....?

PS I'm suggesting this as your comment initially puzzled me and I'd solved the clue!

I'm actually in bed at the moment Malone but if memory serves it's an anagram of "topless pipe" + "player" minus the letters from "evidently on vacation" so (p)ipe + pla(ye)r

Of course, I could be wrong.

It wouldn't be the first time 😂

Definition ' with a little wave'?

Brendan, in deciding which of the two thematic modifications to use in each case, the preamble gives guidance. There are three pairs of answers and each pair contains two synonyms for a different meaning of the thematic word. Within each pair one is modified in one way and one the other. This resolves the only two which could be ambiguous and are unchecked.