The fall was published after Nemesis, and the rules on novels were changed from being self contained to interconnected, and they abandoned the numbered novel system.
Instead of rare bursts of continuity, you get random bursts of discontinuity, as the authors have different opinions on how to portray shared OCs, or takes on an event or its significance.
Curious about Boimler looking sad at that padd. My gut guess was it had something to do with Will, but he already thinks he’s dead so….?