<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def panic(self, *args):
 """ Creates a fatal error and exit """

        self._err("fatal", *args)
        if self.test_errs_mode is False:  # pragma: no cover
            sys.exit(1)