阿尔及利亚独立战争期间，法国外籍军团勒布朗上尉带领他的伞兵特种部队前去捕捉线游击队领导人 。一路上，一个妓女和阿拉伯儿童加入了他们。他们完成任务后，在撤离时直升机被击落，他们只能用其它的方式回到法国 A French Foreign Legion commander is told to assemble a unit and capture an Algerian rebel leader. He gathers in his old unit, most of whom are no longer in top form. One is having nightmares of past indiscretions, another is now drinking, another has lost his nerve. He takes them in captures the leader, but then is unable to make it to the pick up. He encounters a rebel patrol and is trapped unless they can escape before their water runs out.