I've not really enjoyed this - it seemed like hard work. I've ground to a halt with two crossing ones in the SW unsolved. Any hints, please?
21d Brief tactic to overcome a state (6)
?A?*?A
26a First on back row missing capital city (5)
*?I?E
(The * is the crossing letter)
I can find several "states" for the first one, but can't see a parsing for any. No idea on the second.