Sounds cool!
If you don't mind my asking, what problem are you having, that's holding things up? I don't have the same level of experience as sgqwonkian does, but maybe I could still help figure it out.
Also, if you want sound effects, there's a nifty little sound generator app here:
http://www.superflashbros.net/as3sfxr/
I can't promise you that it's the answer to your problem, but the stuff you can make with it is definitely better than nothing. I used it myself to create a sound for the new molecular disruptor in OA v003.