Mephisto

[Murielmci]

9a Back on drink in The Cannon (11)
st?r?cha?e?

15d On the threshold military intelligence chaps under control (8 two words) ?nl??ine

Any help much appreciated.

[crofter]

9a Sternchaser

[kayakamina]

15d In Limine

[Murielmci]

Thank you, both of you, these were both new words to me - you learn something every day!

[crofter]

Try this, Muriel.

Visit www.oneacross.com and choose "crosswords"

Type in the pattern st?r?cha?e? and press "GO"

The only word to fit this pattern is STERNCHASER

There's another solver based on "anagrams"

[Murielmci]

We have often used Oneacross but usually find it better for GK than cryptic - but I admit that this time I forgot Oneacross altogether.

Thanks for your help.

[crofter]

Agreed ~ you have to process the cryptic part yourself, but it would have led you to Sternchaser (a cannon mounted at the rear of a galleon to fire on those in pursuit).

Before this clue, I had never heard of a "Stern + chaser" :o)