Space Invader

by Ian Tullis and Mike Selinker
Answer: CHINESE LANTERN

The diagramless solves to this grid:

      GIG      
    SOONERS    
   MOONSTONE   
  SOPHIE TORR  
 WED  FRAU NES 
MANED  TNN ECHO
ISTRY   ADU RAW
ROE SUP   DRAPE
OFNO NEO  OUTED
 FCC SENS  TED 
  ETTE EARTHS  
   ASTEROIDS   
    OSMONDS    
      UWE      

The central Down entries tell you to INSERT ONE ROW. A blank row can be inserted into the center of the grid, and each of the fourteen broken-up Down entries can take a unique letter in that spot to become a new reasonable entry: MIRO becomes MICRO, WAS OFF becomes WASH OFF, etc. The completed row spells out the visually appropriate answer CHINESE LANTERN, which is what you mistook for a flying saucer (or so the Zyzzlvarian government would like you to think).

      GIG      
    SOONERS    
   MOONSTONE   
  SOPHIE TORR  
 WED  FRAU NES 
MANED  TNN ECHO
ISTRY   ADU RAW
chinese lantern
ROE SUP   DRAPE
OFNO NEO  OUTED
 FCC SENS  TED 
  ETTE EARTHS  
   ASTEROIDS   
    OSMONDS    
      UWE