Specialist Contact Ability Ranks

[Hark]

When choosing an ability for a Specialist Contact, is it assumed that abilities with ranks also include the benefits from the lower ranked versions before it?

Example:
Is it assumed that the Partner-Grade Specialist who has the Illuminatus ability "Usual Suspects II" also benefits from the details from "Usual Suspects I"?

If "Usual Suspects I" and "Usual Suspects II" are assumed to be combined, would this grant the player with the ability to use a Cover Identity that applies to their teammates AND grants them the "Flawless Identity" feat with it?

[Crafty_Pat]

The intent of the system is that each contact ability is a separate entity that does not also include previous legacy versions. That said, YMMV and you may want to make contacts more robust, and there are probably one or two abilities that either work better or only work with previous iterations also installed. So go with your gut.