97 3.2TL no crank after gasket change

i replaced the oilfilter housing gasket and goto start the car... nothing. only wires that were touched where neg batt cable, oil press sensor wire, and the vtec wire were disconnected (and all reconnected)

with the key in position II i have dash lights as normal, headlights, blinkers, radio, etc all normal. but when i turn the key to start the car i get a light click of a relay under the dash somewhere, but ZERO from the starter...

i have checked the starter wire while cranking and get 0 volts at the S terminal (small starter wire)and have batt voltage at the B+ wire ...

I DO get batt voltage at the ignition switch start wire (by the steering wheel) while trying to start the car...
if i run batt voltage via jumper wire to the S terminal the starter fires right up and the car starts just fine (key already in pos II)

i have looked everywhere for a wiring diagram for this circuit and cant find one...

what is between the ign switch and the starter solenoid? any relays or fuses?
i know its not a strait shot from the column to the starter as the wire color and gauge are different.

to recap
batt good
cables good clean and tight'
everything has power as needed
green vats light is OFF
ign switch tests good

only thing i can think of is neutral safety switch on the trans BUT it has same symptoms in neutral as in park


any ideas?