Re: LES
In one of the drawings there is clearly a Launch Escape System, just like Mercury, Apollo or Soyuz. The Launch escape tower is the best kind of rescue method (it worked once for the Soviets) as it can be activated on the launchpad, it can be jettisoned before reaching orbit (thereby increasing the payload capacity), but it needs a vertical launch.
About the return: well, there's only one way : the parachute. As long as the Soyuz 1 mistake is never repeated, it's the safest way down.
Raoul