No 14597, Wednesday 24 Sep 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance. 

Open for anyone to solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Express right in time (6) PHRASE {PH{R}ASE}

9   Men have vegetables in gardens (8) ORCHARDS {OR}{CHARDS}

10 Organized a party, essentially on open land at Germany (8) ARRANGED {A}{paRty}{RANGE}{D}

11 Give away battery, one Tesla removed for repair (6) BETRAY BATtERY*

12 Supply to food shop pure (8) DELIVERY {DELI}{VERY}

13 Holiday secrets all over the place, not thrilled primarily (6) RECESS SECREtS*

14 Fantastic, inspirational parson leaves in the beginning (7) INITIAL  INspIraTIonAL

17 Looks of snake, etc is creepy? Yes, I would say so (7) ASPECTS {ASP}{ETC}*{(~yes)S}

20 Snake crosses shelter to rest (6) ASLEEP {AS{LEE}P}

22 Mob never dispersed that month (8) NOVEMBER*

25 Indian organisation bypasses union to recall AI in the country (6) RUSSIA {R{U}SS}{AI<=}

26 Decides program is not organised (8) APPOINTS {APP}{IS+NOT}*

27 Others' performance in school time was briefest (8) SHORTEST {S}{OTHERS}*{T}

28 Undergraduate's story on first recital was more revolting (6) UGLIER {UG}{LIE}{Re...l}

DOWN

1   Number like ether in theatre's primarily vapourises (8) THIRTEEN {ETHER+IN}Th...n}*

2   Ha, artificial intelligence used in West Indies island (6) HAWAII {HA}{W{AI}I}

3   Unit's association (6) ?E?G?E (Addendum - LEAGUE [DD] - See comments)

4   Obey God in commotion for farewell (7) GOODBYE*

5   Eccentric big seer primarily chastises cold people (8) ICEBERGS {BIG+SEER+Ch...s}*

6   Piece of first Persian artefact (8) PARTICLE {Pe...n}{ARTICLE}

7   Models have theory? Ladies are heartless (6) IDEALS {IDEA}{La..eS}

15 At last, reassure release of one son (8) TREASURE {aT}{REASsURE} Where is the definition?

16 Looked to change sides? Fascinated (8) APPEALED APPEA(-r+l)LED

18 Surgeons' home base (8) THEATRES [CD]

19 Children are fast in nabbing first, mischievous (7) INFANTS {FAST+IN+Na...g}*

21 Requested for sawn-off shotgun for a change (6) SOUGHT SHOTGUn*

23 To begin with, Victor and Peter open up room to let out smoke (6) VAPOUR Acrostic

24 For the most part, a person keeps one lady in the sides (6) MAINLY {MA{1}N}{LadY}

Reference List

Right = R, Men = OR, Germany = D, Tesla = T, Union = U, Time = T, Undergraduate = UG,  Son = S