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For a finite-dimensional associative algebra, form a graph on its simple modules, joining $S,T$ when ${\mathrm{Ext}}^1(S,T)$ or ${\mathrm{Ext}}^1(T,S)$ is nonzero. Its connected components are exactly the simple modules belonging to each block of a finite-dimensional algebra. They are also the components generated by sharing a Jordan–Hölder factor occurrence in an indecomposable representation that is a projective module.

Indeed, Ext separation of finite-length modules would split the regular module of a block into canonical summands if that block had two graph components. Right multiplication preserves these summands, so its projection supplies a nontrivial central idempotent, contradicting the definition of a block. An indecomposable projective belongs to one block. Finally, a nonsplit extension $0\to U\to V\to W\to 0$ of simple modules is a quotient of the projective cover of $W$: a lift onto $W$ must contain $U$, since otherwise the extension splits. Thus its two endpoints share factors in an indecomposable projective.

Put $q=p^n$. A finitely generated module over $A=k[X]/(X^q)$ is finite-dimensional over $k$, and multiplication by $X$ is a nilpotent linear map $T$ with $T^q=0$. Its Jordan normal form exists over $k$ because its minimal polynomial is a power of $X$. Each Jordan block has size $r\le q$ and is the cyclic module $M_r=k[X]/(X^r)$. HenceA submodule of $M_r$ is an ideal of $k[X]/(X^r)$, and its inverse image is an ideal of the principal ideal domain $k[X]$ containing $(X^r)$. The only possibilities are $(X^j)$ with $0\le j\le r$. Thus all submodules form the chainEvery successive quotient is the one-dimensional simple module on which $X$ acts as zero. This is its unique composition series, so $M_r$ is a uniserial module and is an indecomposable representation: two nonzero direct summands would be incomparable submodules. Only $M_1$ is simple.

For $G=⟨g⟩$ of order $q$, the group algebra satisfiessince $(T-1{)}^q=T^q-1$ in characteristic $p$. Consequently, up to isomorphism, $\boxed{M_1,\dots ,M_{p^n}}$ are precisely the finite-dimensional indecomposable modules, and $\boxed{M_1\text{ is the unique simple module}}$. The finite-dimensional convention follows from the finite-generation hypothesis; “exactly” counts isomorphism classes.

We prove $(ii)\Rightarrow (i)$. The central block idempotents split every finite-dimensional module into its block components. A nonzero indecomposable representation, in particular an indecomposable projective module, has only one such component; otherwise these give a nontrivial direct-sum decomposition.

Every Jordan–Hölder factor of a module in a block belongs to that block, since its central idempotent acts as identity on submodules and quotients. Thus any two simple factors of the same projective indecomposable are in the same block. Applying this along the proposed chain yields $\boxed{S,T\text{ belong to the same block}}$.