2300AD Thorez with Letratone effect

When I originally designed the Thorez, the spec sheet called for a single stage to orbit freight-hauler. Just something to get cargo from ground to orbit. So the main engines, on the centerline, were multimode turbo jet/ scramjets. The final sprint to orbit , and orbital maneuvering was provided by the outboard rocket engines. I was quite surprised, when "Ships of the French Arm" came out, that she'd been turned into a starship!