Update: It started, MIL light is reset.
So I think I had 2 separate things happen in a relatively short time.
1) As I mentioned in the first post, before it died it struggled to crank/start. I think the starter cooked here. When I put 12v on it today it is grounded ( it's 10 months old I didn't suspect that it would have failed so soon). I installed the old starter that I repaired.
2) The loose terminal created an over/under current and the MIL was triggered. When it  died the fault was captured but alas the starter was already toast. Does this sound plausible? Thoughts or comments welcome.

I'm seeing 12v at the starter.
The starter solenoid clicks.
The engine turns by hand.
Will a fried ECU prevent the starter from working? I do have a spare starter and solenoid,  I'll try those this afternoon. And I'm going to hot stick the starter and see what happens. I don't have the strongest electrical knowledge and find this very frustrating. Where's the common link, starter won't turn and it just died?
Thank you for your assistance.

All of the grounds are there and tight. When I turn the key to ON the dash is fully lit up as always, the fuel pump cycles as it should. 100% normal looking (except for the MIL light). When I turn to start I can hear the solenoid pick and I read 12v at the starter terminal and nothing else.
And yes the brake pedal must be depressed to crank.

So I'm assuming this is part of the battery locate (I honestly don't know). The terminal with the red arrow (-) chassis ground) was loose and a bit corroded to the "bus bar" it was this negative terminal block that smelled of burnt plastic. This is the LR fender well looking forward. The smoke came from this area. Everything has been disassembled cleaned and retightened. I do have a single wire starter solenoid that I will try tomorrow.

Hi all.
So I have a 1016 ZForce 800EX EPS with about 1K on the new motor. The wife and I out for a ride, about 10 miles in (and half way back) my wife says what's the red light? About a mile back we had stopped, and it struggled on the restart, fired and ran normally. Suddenly it just died, never saw it code. Try to restart I can hear the solenoid clicking, but nothing else. Smoke from LR wheel well (not a lot and stopped right away) electrical smoke. Anyway late afternoon, rain in the forecast we walk back.
I dragged it out the next morning. BTW electrically everything works, lights, heater, directionals, fuel pump, everything. It does have the battery relocate kit, there were a bunch of questionable connections (corrosion loose ish). I found the negative terminal block with the looseish connection really stunk, burnt. I redid all of the connections, NO JOY.
Right now electrically everything works. I have 12vdc power going to the starter at least the meter says so, amps? Steady mil light no codes.
Any ideas from the hive are appreciated.