There is something to look for here, referred to after the clue explanations, solving time 22 mins.
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
7 REMITTANCE (Meter it can)*
9 UREA hidden
10 A (R) ID
11 EYE CON TACT “I”
12 EGGSHELL soldiers = strips of bread, toast, dipped into egg
13 RESENT re-sent
15 N EARLY
16 TEAM UP
20 partY A WING fan = wing (bird)
23 AIRBRUSH ‘airbrush
24 EARTHBOUND
26 AIDE Hidden
27 HAL F
28 R (IDI C) ULING Idi Amin
DOWN
1 TET (Vietnam) RAG ON
2 HINDUSTANI (Indian thus)*
3 ETHEREAL (tale here)*
4 MEMO IR
5 (t)AUNT
6 NEO (CO)N
8 NEEDLE cf needless
14 SOMERSAULT (almost sure)*
17 EURYDIC malE (rude icy)* From Greek mythology
18 PA’S A DEN A
19 VAL U ED
21 A RA(t) RAT Ref pairs from Noah’s Ark from Mount Ararat
22 G AB BRO (orb)< Type of rock
25 (s) TIFF
Perimeter letters read THE MAN AT THE GATE OF THE YEAR – from Desert (1908) ‘God Knows’ by Minnie Louise Haskins quoted by King George VI in wartime Christmas broadcast (1939). For first Quixote puzzle of the year – I saw quite early on that some message might emerge.
Thanks for this, I failed on 21 (ARARAT) and was looking forward to enlightenment! I didn’t spot the message, maybe that would have helped.
Never heard of 6 and 22d.Got a lot of clues not by the explanation! E.g Tetragon.It fitted! 28a never considered Idi Amin just by poking fun at.However it worked.22 mins? In my dreams!