Is it possible to beat The Ensign without accepting the food at the beginning?

Refusing the food means no compass. It's entirely possible to do fine without this, but you'll need to remember that food lasts 3 steps and water is one per step. Once you find the T, C, I and A, you'll be in super solid shape.

You'll die. A lot. You're supposed to.

The impossible is REALLY hard. If you've got hugs weapons and bolas, maybe. I managed it once thus far. Yikes.

Once you figure out how to increase your vision range, you'll be able to find things and navigating the map becomes much easier.

I've yet to get past the final flight...not sure you can (flown with 30 hp and still got swatted down), but maybe the recent secrets upgrade will answer that one.

Happy exploring...and visit all the houses you can: some have some rather fun moments!!! :)

I've played without refusing food a good 20+ times and I'm finally almost done with it. I've defeated the hard defector each time I've faced him (he's cake work with 2 bolas and full range of weps, plus I had +3 melee and +3 health at the time). It isn't indeed possible to beat just gotta watch your water and food early on. Look for the tannery immediately after clearing both houses by the swamp, it's always close to the middle. I have 23 alien alloys so far right now so my ship is ready, I'm going to clear the entire map to make sure I beat the game completely!