Persistent Preloader: How to have one preloader show load progress of Flex Container file AND loaded Flash movie and assets

Question

I've built a simple class that implements IPreloaderDisplay and handles all relevant events.

How can I have data persist between the preloader and the Application? Even when I stop propagation via stopImmediatePropagation, the Application.application.preloader reference is discarded and I am unable to reach that code via the main application, even though the preloader is visually still on the screen. Is there a way to communicate between the preloader and the application via SystemManager or am I going about this the wrong way?

The main goal is to have one Flex movie load a Flash movie and several assets and to be able to update one single preloader as the Flex container / Flash movie / movie assets load.

Thanks for your help, JR