The story of the Moskva Academy Cadets is broken down largely by their four years in the Academy and then the Fall. The Aftermath is largely epilogue and lead in for the next entry.
It could be possible to break this down further, with years one and two in a story, years three and four in a story. The year three/four story would stop just before the 2695 EOY (Senior EOY for my cohort) and would pick up with EOY, the Fall, and the Aftermath?
This could even stretch out to a story per year format, with most of Year Four being the Fall and the Aftermath. I kind of like that, as Year Four should be the lightest overall. The Cadets are well used to the routine of the Moskva by then and are mostly just prepping for final Inspection and more or less competing for top spots for the Senior Cruise. (In this case, it will turn into an acclaim scenario post Fall)
Get to know the main characters and the setting. Primary focus on Dmitri settling in and drawing his core team to him in various ways.
Primary antagonists in this year are other cadets, mostly senior cadets. The instructors are neutral at worst (though some hints that Abramovich is much worse than he lets on). Senior cadets will be doing normal haze-the-newbies shit until someone finds out about Dmitri's mother. Dmitri will take exception to that.
Other primary story points to hit:
Second year cadets should be the ones who are more or less in the shadows of the school. They aren't brand new anymore, but they also aren't senior cadets yet, and they don't have the workload of third years. This year is almost deliberately designed to let the cadets run a bit wild.
Year Two will feature the first cadet cruise on one of the Triumphs (third years in command roles, second years in enlisted roles)
Year Two will also feature the first summer term assignments. High-achieving cadets are assigned to a bootcamp station between enlisted cohorts. They get the full bootcamp experience plus extras, like a chance to go through special forces training.
Dmitri will be more directly dealing with the Psychotronic Institute this year, especially during summer term. PI is seeking candidates for what is essentially Focus training, even if they don't know that that is what they are looking for. Dmitri would be an ideal candidate for them, but that would break him.
This year should be one of the heaviest years in terms of workload. Exams, certifications, qualifications, almost all of that happens during the third year.
The biggest issue this year should be that Dmitri is nabbed by PI, maybe they falsified a training order for him or something?
This leaves an opportunity to give someone else the POV for a bit, but also a chance for Dmitri to see inside the lion's den, so to speak. He probably meets Simon but realistically, Dmitri cannot remember any training that happens here. Maybe he makes a friend who is skilled enough at Focus to wipe or block his memories?
This year is mostly Dmitri recovering emotionally from year three and securing his ranking position for the final placement and the Senior cruise.
Also, Saya and Dmitri will officially be together following her leading a team to rescue him.
Saya will also meet her Father this year. It turns out well eventually, but in the moment, she goes for his throat.
Shit. Fan. The natural result when the two meet.
When the Fall hits, Dmitri and his crew have to deal with the Zealot that Abramovich turns out to be (mostly Dmitri "discovering" his Focus powers that were activated during his time with PI), fighting off a co-opted Bastion that had shown up to help Abramovich secure or destroy the Moskva, and mostly leaping from bad situation to bad situation until they make it to CNK's Breaker Yard.
There, roughly three months after the Fall, they agree to help McKenzie by rallying un-co-opted Republic forces for a crack back at the Zealots. In return, CNK gets the Moskva back in fighting trim and Dmitri gets some basic Focus training from Liz.
Eventually, the Moskva and the loyalist fleet will join up with McKenzie and his forces when the big fight happens. The Moskva will be lost in the fight, though the crew will make it off. Dmitri and Saya will get married at some point. Dmitri will also get better with his Focus abilities. Not David, Simon, or Liz level, but better than most graduates of PI.
As thanks for their throwing in with him, McKenzie will have the one Zodiak-class rechristened the Moscow and given to newly promoted Admiral Dmitri Yen of whatever the united human government gets named.