Rte Guide No 17

[poorclare]

13a Meanwhile, carry on captiously like a crusty one! (4) ???b
28a If the pits are not fully exploited, its because they've been subverted (10) ?n?e?m???d

14d They'll be put down for generations (5) ??o?s
27d Message gone? Confirmation, please! (4) S???

Thanking you

[Tilly2]

28 undermined

[gangesboy]

14 roots

[Neveracrossword]

27 Sent? (it's what comes up on my mobile after I've texted/sent a message).

[Tilly2]

13a crib?

[poorclare]

Thank you my friends.
Lovely bright sunny morning here.
Hope you have a nice day

[fiction-factory]

crab?

[fiction-factory]

I think crib fits the "captiously" bit but I can't see where the 'crusty one' fits in.
I thought of crab as in crusty crustacean and as in irritable.
Still not sure.
Which have you gone for poorclare?

[Tilly2]

I think crab better fits the definition, FF. :-)

[fiction-factory]

Thanks. I also see crabby and crusty both mean irritable

[fiction-factory]

I wonder why the clue starts with "meanwhile"?

[poorclare]

I thought of Scab, one who continues too work while others go on strike,
also a scab gets crusty BUT that does not fit in with roots ~ so I have went for Crab.
Thank you all ~ now to head south of the border to post.