It is the far future, and humans and Dracs are mortal enemies, locked in a terrible war. In the middle of a battle, a soldier from Earth, Willis Davidge (Dennis Quaid), crash-lands on a barren world. His search for survivors only turns up one other stranded pilot - a Drac (Louis Gossett Jr.). The two are hostile at first, but quickly realize that on this savage world, they have no choice but to band together in order to survive. In the process, they learn about each other''s cultures, and a grudging respect eventually develops into full-fledged friendship.