Very nice for your first try
For your first flash game this is really good!
It reminds me of Freelancer except in 2D, the gameplay is very nice but I don't quite like the gfx... Just abit too bland for my tastes.
I wouldn't mind making afew cooler looking ships for you if you wouldn't mind, if you want some help just drop me an email (sonnux@yahoo.co.uk)
The backgrounds are also pretty good besides some of the more foreground stuff.
But besides the gfx side of the game I really enjoyed playing this, it also made me laugh from afew of the phrases they said. I hope you go well in making the full thing though as I wouldn't mind playing the full version :)