Crossword puzzle clue "whom the agents work for and a chunk of each theme answer"

Whom the agents work for (and a chunk of each theme answer)

Like each answer in this puzzle - also each word in each clue - in length

Theme answer count, amount of letters in each, word hidden in each, and, when repeated twice, today's date

Briefly, a feature of each starred clue, and a chunk of its answer

Complete freedom ... and a hint to each half of the answer to each starred clue

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! "Blame It ___"

Early, or a hint to where each half of each starred answer can be found

Color that can precede each half of each [3] answer