Martial law.

The exercise of government and control by military authorities over the civilian population of a designated territory.

Martial law is an extreme and rare measure used to control society during war or periods of civil unrest or chaos.

Martial law is the result of my heart beating triple time, of being wrong, of having had my defenses down (leaving holes in my guard and my ports open for ships to dock at).

You dropped your anchor and ravaged my city and all I can do is excise you out (like a tumour, a surgeon with the hands of a pianist and the fingers of a violinist with a scalpel fluttering delicately against her palm).