Java noob that needs directions

Story:
Well long story short, i'm making this client/server game. I made most of the server, the rest is based off of some company's open source server that goes along with their client. I can't edit the client, unflortunalty. yeah i know, why the hell would they have a open source server but not a client? The client is very versitile, to meet everybody's needs. This server was meant for noobs that want a easy MMOC, or for developers who want a nice game. I'm kinda in between. The last time they updated their client they provided a feature that required MSQL and use of their server (for added features but i think its for keeping track of the game servers). This was a big leap but they had included all the stuff needed in their new server. I however, have problems with that. I don't want to do the last part. I can't just edit the client so i can just have these features because i can't edit the client. Plus i'm sure that can't be too good for connection speeds. Without registering your server, many neat features cannot be used, but you can still use it. But all the developers play this "game" i guess you could call it, and the name of the game is to make the best server that has all the newest features and can use the latest client. Well i'm not going into the details about MY server because aside from my banking system and advanced pet system, its almost identicle to the open source server they provide you, which has almsot no interface.

my solution:
But i have found another way! It requires another little extra server that tags along and provides the missing features via another separate client. I got the server covered.

Problem:
The game client is a flash file embeded in a html document. This tag along client, for the user's convience MUST be in the same window, most liked embeded and auto-started when the page loads. If that can't be done then it could pop up in a separate window when the web page loads and closes when the webpage closes.

resources:
vb6 (this is what the server is coded in), vb5, VC++ 98, Vfp 98, Adobe flash CS3 Pro, a 10-year-old (me), $0 dollars to spend online for some product and $10 to spend at my local electronic store.

Why the hell am i here:
i know absolutly nothing about java. but mostly because i want my client to be imbeded, somebody i had asked help from referred me to using java. I am interested in learning java. Also, the summer of 08 my dad will allot $100 for my computer application development needs if i ask. I can get programming classes with my local school district for about that much.


So now that you know a little about my problem i'm asking if anybody would be willing to tell me what path should i take. Should i begin to learn java and use it to solve my game problem and possibly integrate it in my future releases of my server, or should i find another solution?